The second half of the budget session resumes Monday, days after the BJP won the assembly elections in four of five states, calling it a win of "pro-people" and "development" agenda. In reflection mode over the huge setback in the state polls, the Congress on Sunday said it will raise the issues of unemployment, inflation and the Ukraine war in both the houses of the parliament. The first half on the session was held between February 1 and February 11.
Here are ten points on the Budget session:
1. With a drop in India's daily Covid cases, Parliament is likely to see fewer restrictions this time. Last month, the session started in the shadows of the Omicron-driven third wave.
2. Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge, the leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha, after a meeting with Sonia Gandhi and other party leaders over the budget session agenda on Sunday, said: "We will try to raise the issues of inflation, unemployment, MSP (minimum support price) for farmers and medical students returning from Ukraine". The party has been dealt a fresh blow after a failure to revive its voter base in the state polls.
3. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday will table the Jammu and Kashmir budget for the financial year 2022-23. "Finance Minister to present a statement of estimated receipts and expenditure of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for the year 2022-23," a statement was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
4. The first half saw the government presenting this year's budget with a focus on creating nearly six million jobs in the next five years. Sitharaman had presented the budget as part of 25-year lead-up to India's 100-year independence.
{{/usCountry}}4. The first half saw the government presenting this year's budget with a focus on creating nearly six million jobs in the next five years. Sitharaman had presented the budget as part of 25-year lead-up to India's 100-year independence.
{{/usCountry}}5. A debate on the motion of thanks of President Ram Nath Kovind's address - in the first part - witnessed some stormy moments as Congress MP Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp attack on the government. "Poor people can see India's richest 100 have more wealth than 55 crore people. Prime Minister should start uniting these two Indias at the earliest. I am very worried about my country standing where it's standing. You're putting this nation and its people at huge risk," he said as he accused the "BJP and RSS" of playing with the foundation of the country.
6. In response, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had hit out at the Congress, accusing it of misgovernance and corruption when it was in power, saying that- "Blind opposition is disrespecting democracy".
7. The Congress's policy is "divide and rule" and "it has become a part of the tukde-tukde gang", the prime minister had said. “Despite losing so many elections, your arrogance (ahankar) doesn't go and neither does your ecosystem let it," he had said.
8. To maintain social distancing, galleries and chambers will be in use in both the Houses. A total of 11 sittings took place in the first part.
9. The second half of the Budget session will conclude on April 8. Nineteen sittings are scheduled to be held in the second part.
10. Two new bills were introduced in the first part - The Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2022 in Rajya Sabha and The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2022 in Lok Sabha. 14 bills and six financial items were identified by the government to be taken up during this session.