Debate on Union Budget: Opposition raises MSP issue, US deportations and women’s safety in LS

Dilip Saikia, who was presiding, said MoS Finance Pankaj Chaudhary was present in the House, and that no rule under Parliament proceedings made the presence of the FM mandatory during the Budget discussions.

Congress leader K C Venugopal contended that as per convention, the FM remains present in the House whenever Budget discussions are initiated.

Amid disruptions, Speaker Om Birla took over the House proceedings and assured members that in future he will ensure the presence of FM in the House during Budget discussions.

Birla added that there is a concept of “collective responsibility” in the council of ministers, and it doesn’t matter if a Cabinet minister or an MoS is present in the House during discussions.

“There is no rule/regulation in this regard. This is only a convention,” Birla said. Soon after, Sitharaman joined the House proceedings.

Dr Gandhi said the budget-making process and the Budget was not federal because the states have either little or practically no say in all this. He said the Budget has failed to address farmers’ grievances and tried to maintain a fiscal deficit at the cost of social sector schemes.

Participating in discussion, BJP MP from Jaipur Rural Rao Rajendra Singh claimed the Centre has given maximum benefits to middle class this time compared to any other government in the past.

Taking up the issue of deportation of Indians from the US, SP’s Shiv Pal Singh Patel said it was sad that US “insulted” Indians and the government was insensitive to the issue. He said that while China and other countries were developing AI applications, the Union government was busy in “gau (cow), gomutra, kanwar yatra, kumbh, religious conflicts and digging of religious places”.

Congress’s Brijendra Singh Ola said the Budget does not address the hopes and aspirations of millions. “This Budget is neither in the interest of farmers nor the youth, common man or the middle-class. This Budget is in the interest of some corporate houses only…” Ola said.

SP’s Harendra Singh Malik said farmers have been protesting to press for a legal guarantee to MSP but the government has no time for them.

Chandrashekhar of Aazad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) raised the issue of women’s safety. “I want to express my pain that women are not safe. The government should increase outlay and talk to the state governments so that the safety of our daughters can be ensured. The country will not become stronger until daughters are safe,” he said.

Targeting the government, Sudama Prasad of CPI (ML) (L) said the government has failed to tax the rich. He also highlighted the cut in allocation under the PM Awaas Yojana-Gramin and JJM at the revised estimate stage in 2024-25. Supporting the Budget proposals, Shiv Sena MP Naresh Ganpat Mhaske targeted the Opposition, alleging that Congress insulted President Droupadi Murmu.