With Govt, Oppn adamant over Adani row and Rahul comment, fate of Budget Session uncertain

The Congress also has reiterated there is no going back on their demands for a JPC into the Adani issue and that Rahul Gandhi would not apologise for his remark in the UK.

Opposition members protest in the well of the Lok Sabha during Budget Session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Tuesday, March 21, 2023. (PTI Photo)

With no signs of ice thawing between the ruling BJP and Opposition parties, clouds of uncertainty over Parliament’s Budget Session are getting darker. On Tuesday, proceedings of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned abruptly until 2 pm within a few minutes of the Houses convening.

Sources in the ruling BJP said the Budget Session cannot run “with no business and complete logjam” till April 6, when it is scheduled to conclude. If the impasse is not broken, the government would have to find a way to complete the passage of the Budget, which includes the passing of the Finance Bill. If there’s no end to the stalemate, the Budget will have to be passed this week, said a party source. Moreover, there is no Parliament on Wednesday.

However, amid the chaos, the Jammu and Kashmir Appropriation Bill, 2023, was passed in the Lok Sabha.

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On Tuesday, the BJP had decided to run Question Hour if the Opposition remained in their seats and ask for a discussion. “We were told not to get up or raise slogans if the Opposition does not come to the well of the House,” said a senior BJP MP.

However, when the House met Congress and DMK MPs rushed to the well of the Lok Sabha demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) into the Adani Group row.

“Both sides are stuck at their hard positions. We cannot now go back in our demand for an apology,” said the party leader.

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The Congress also has reiterated there is no going back on their demands for a JPC into the Adani issue and that Rahul Gandhi would not apologise for his remark in the UK.

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Meanwhile, the BJP on Tuesday intensified its attack on Gandhi outside Parliament, with party spokesperson Sambit Patra terming the Congress leader as a betrayer. “He is the present-day Mir Jafar of Indian polity. He insulted the country and asked the foreign power to intervene in the country,” Patra said at a press conference.

In a high-level meeting on Tuesday morning, the BJP leadership started discussing the strategy to forward to pass the Budget, sources said.

Liz Mathew

Have been in journalism covering national politics for 23 years. Have covered six consecutive Lok Sabha elections and assembly polls in almost all the states. Currently writes on ruling BJP. Always loves to understand what's cooking in the national politics (And ventures into the act only in kitchen at home). ... Read More

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