Parliament Budget Session: Rajya Sabha witnesses Oppn walkout after Amit Shah’s remarks; both Houses adjourned

Both Houses adjourned for the day. Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday in Rajya Sabha stated that the Congress had previously supported the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, whereas the BJP government prioritised public welfare during the pandemic. He further remarked that the people, weary of Congress and its scams, had relegated the party to the Opposition. Tensions rose in the House over Shah's comments regarding agitations, leading to a protest by Opposition members, who eventually staged a walkout.

The Lok Sabha adjourned for the day after passing the Boilers Bill. Speaker Om Birla announced the adjournment, and the house will reconvene on Wednesday at 11 am.

Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday in Rajya Sabha countered criticism of India's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, asserting that the country managed the crisis better than any other nation. He highlighted India's achievement in developing vaccines and administering them to millions within two years. Shah also emphasized that Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted 40 meetings with Chief Ministers during the pandemic, questioning whether any other Prime Minister had taken such measures during a national crisis.

Home Minister Amit Shah emphasises a transition from reactive response to proactive risk reduction with the new bill on Tuesday in Rajya Sabha. He outlines a move from manual to AI-based real-time monitoring and from radio announcements to digital platforms like social media, apps, and mobile alerts. Shah also envisions a shift from a solely government-led response to a multi-dimensional approach involving society and citizens. He adds that India's advancements in disaster management have earned national and international recognition.

The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Finance Bill 2025 with 35 amendments, including the abolition of the 6% digital tax on online ads. The Budget 2025-26 proposes a total expenditure of Rs 50.65 lakh crore, a 7.4% rise from the current fiscal. Capital expenditure is set at Rs 11.22 lakh crore, with an effective capital outlay of Rs 15.48 lakh crore. Gross tax revenue is projected at Rs 42.70 lakh crore, while borrowing is estimated at Rs 14.01 lakh crore. Fiscal deficit is targeted at 4.4% of GDP, which is projected at Rs 3,56,97,923 crore for FY26. The Rajya Sabha will now consider the bill for final approval. (PTI)

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday clarified in Lok Sabha that Prasadam given at religious places are exempt from goods and service tax (GST).

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in her reply to the debate on Finance Bill, 2025, said: "So, this Budget session has introduced provisions and certain reformatory steps through the Finance Bill, which we hope will be taken up for discussion in this House during the Monsoon session,". The new Income Tax Bill will be taken up for discussion in next monsoon session of Parliament, she added.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in her reply to the debate on Finance Bill, 2025, said the Union Budget of 2025-26 is aimed at boosting domestic production and enhancing export competitiveness. “Rationalistion of customs will also benefit importers,” she said in Lok Sabha.

After Rajya Sabha resumes proceedings, Home Minister Amit Shah introduces the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is expected answer on the Finance Bill debate at 2 pm.

Lok Sabha takes up debate on the Finance Bill, 2025 under 'Legislative Business for Consideration and Passing'

The Kunal Karma-Eknath Shinde row reached the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

Speaking during the discussion in Lok Sabha on Tuesday afternoon, Shiv Sena Shiv Sena MP Dhairyasheel Sambhajirao Mane said: I come from Maharashtra, and for the last two days, you must have seen that a joker has been speaking against the deputy chief minister. Through this House, I would like to say that there should be some rules. Instead of making comments on a person, if you speak on policies, it would be welcome.”

The MP further said: “In the name of comedy, many are trying to open their political shops. Someone from here writes a script and the comedian goes and says it on stage. I would like to demand that there should be a shutdown on such platforms which promote hate speech and can create a tense situation between two persons.” 

The statement by Mane comes as Mumbai police said Tuesday they have summoned Kamra for questioning in a case registered against him in connection with his controversial statement against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Here's what various members of the Lower House said during the discussion pushing for the release of MGNREGA wages in Tamil Nadu, other states:

Congress MP from Kerala Adoor Prakash highlighted a decline in the MGNREGA workforce in his state and attributed it to delayed payments and low wages. "Workers in Kerala have not received their wages for the past three months, and Rs 811 crore is due under the scheme. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development has recommended linking MGNREGA wages to inflation and increasing the workdays to 150. Will the government release the pending amount without delay?" Prakash said.

Minister of State for Rural Development Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani refuted the claims of withholding funds, stating that Kerala has already received nearly Rs 3,000 crore this year. "Last year, Kerala got Rs 3,500 crore. The release of payments is a continuous process, and whatever is pending will be cleared within the next few weeks," he assured the House.

DMK MP Kanimozhi also raised concerns over the matter, saying Tamil Nadu had been waiting for Rs 4,034 crore in MGNREGA payments for the past five months. "The scheme is demand-driven, and if payments are delayed by over 15 days, they must be paid with interest to workers. The Tamil Nadu chief minister has written to the prime minister, and we have met the minister who assured us that dues would be cleared. But we are still waiting," she added.

Responding to the concerns, Pemmasani pointed out that the MGNREGA Act, enacted by the UPA government, stipulates that delays beyond 15 days incur a penalty of 0.05 per cent interest. "According to the law, if there is a delay, the state government initially pays the amount and the central government reimburses it. Tamil Nadu has already received Rs 7,300 crore. With a population of seven crore, Tamil Nadu receives over Rs 10,000 crore, comparable to Uttar Pradesh, which has a population of 20 crore. There is no question of bias," the minister said.

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also defended the government, saying, "Be it Tamil Nadu or West Bengal, the Modi government has never discriminated against any state. The pending MGNREGA dues, including material costs, will be released soon. "Under UPA, from 2006-07 to 2013-14, only Rs 111 crore was allocated for person-days in West Bengal, while under the NDA, we have created 239 crore person-days and allocated Rs 54,515 crore," the agriculture minister said.

The Joint Parliamentary Committee on "one nation one election" (ONOE) committee got a tenure extemsion till the first day of the last week of the Monsoon session. It was constituted in the last Winter Session and its term was to to end on the first day of the last week of the ongoing session.

The committee members are of the view that their work is likely to stretch for a long period of time as the seminal import of the proposed laws will require them to consult a wide range of stakeholders, including political parties and state governments.

The 39-member committee had a vacancy following the resignation of YSR Congress MP V Vijayasai Reddy from the Rajya Sabha. So Lok Sabha secretary general informed the House that a new member from Rajya Sabha was being included in the panel.

Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar informed the House that he has accepted Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju's request to take up the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

The House will resume proceedings at 2 pm.

In Lok Sabha, Chairperson of the Joint Committee of Parliament on simultaneous elections PP Chaudhary seeks an extension for the committee till first day of last week of Monsoon session. Extension granted by the House.

The Lok Sabha was adjourned till 12 pm amid uproar by opposition members over MGNREGA dues for Tamil Nadu and other states. The opposition MPs were not satisfied with Minister of State for Rural Developement Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani's response related to clearing of MGNREGA dues for Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal. The DMK members entered the well of the House, followed by some Trinamool Congress MP. Speaker Om Birla urged them to go back to their seats but when they did not comply, the House was adjourned till 12 pm

Lok Sabha resumes proceedings with Chair Jagadambika Pal. Members are taking turn to speak on Papers to be laid on the Table.

Lok Sabha was adjourned till 12 pm following Opposition uproar with MPs moving towards the well of the House. After Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan spoke amid the din, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla pointedly asked all MPs to avoid responding and talking about their states' political agendas during the Question Hour. He also said that he provide ample time and scope to all members to put their points forward.

After Rajya Sabha Chair Jagdeep Dhankhar called for the 4.30 pm meetin today, LoP Mallikarjun Kharge rose to respond and appreciated the Chair's in-depth knowledge on the Constitution. He also said that transparency in the House is important, and says that he is looking forward to the discussion at 4.30 pm. today with floor leaders.

Speaking during the session 'Matter raised with the permission of the Chair', TMC MP Sagaraika Ghose brought up the media's responsibility in connection with the Sushant Singh Rajput case in 2020.

This comes after the CBI filed a closure report in Sushant Rajput case calling it a "simple case of suicide"

"Who will apologise to Rhea Chakroborty," MP Ghose said highlighting the state of TV broadcast news give that she has also been a journalist for 35 years.

Speaking about the Delhi High Court judge Yashwant Varma’s 'cash at home' case, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar said he will be meeting the floor leaders including Leader of the House JP Nadda and Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge again at 4.30 pm today.

In a meeting on Monday, Dhankhar expressed dismay at the incident of a large amount of cash allegedly being found at the home of Justice Yashwant Varma of the Delhi High Court. He also welcomed Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna’s decision to put the material related to the alleged recovery of cash at home in the public domain. He said that Parliament should await the CJI-appointed inquiry committee’s findings.

Rajya Sabha Chair Dhankhar reprimands the over members who have filed matters for discussion but are not present in the House. Rule 267 states that any member desirous of raising discussion on a matter of urgent public importance may give notice in writing to the Secretary-General. To raise matters in the House, MPs must inform the presiding officers (the Chairman of Rajya Sabha and the Speaker of Lok Sabha) in advance. This requirement ensures the government can collect information to respond to the MPs.

Rajya Sabha Chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar resumes proceedings. MoS Corporate Affairs Harsh Malhotra speaks in the Statement by Ministers session.

Speaker Om Birla chairs the Lower House as Rajeev Rajan Singh, alias Lalan Singh, the Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying of India is responding to questions in the Question Hour.

Both Houses of Parliament are set to reconvene Tuesday morning following a day full of repeated adjournments over over the issue of reservation to Muslims in public contracts in Karnataka.

Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day at 2 pm, while Lok Sabha adjourned for the day after allocating extra time to allow members who had not yet shared their views on the Finance Bill.

Lok Sabha adjourned for the day after allocating extra time to allow members who had not yet shared their views on the Finance Bill. It will reconvene on Tuesday at 11 am.

Shiromani Akal Dal Bhatinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal said that the Union Budget neglects Punjab, stating the state has not been mentioned in the last ten budgets despite its contributions. She raised concerns over the lack of provisions for MSPs and unilateral zero tariffs on agricultural products, which could harm farmers. On the economy, she highlighted that while growth has been recorded, it remains "jobless growth," with 83% of unemployed workers being youth. She also criticised the finance bill for not addressing layoffs in IT and MSMEs, urging reforms in PLI schemes to support job-generating industries.

The Centre has notified a 24% increase in the salaries of Members of Parliament (MPs) on Monday, effective from April 1, 2023, based on the Cost Inflation Index. As per the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, MPs will now receive Rs 1.24 lakh per month, up from Rs 1 lakh. The daily allowance has risen from Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500. Former MPs’ pensions have increased from Rs 25,000 to Rs 31,000 per month, with the additional pension for service beyond five years rising from Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500 per month. The hike follows provisions under the Salary, Allowances, and Pension of Members of Parliament Act. (PTI)

TMC leader Mahua Moitra on Monday criticised the Income Tax department in Lok Sabha, questioning its “massive” size and “unchecked discretion” under the guise of enforcement. She highlighted that only 56 lakh people in a population of 139 crore earn over Rs 15 lakh annually, calling them the “engine” of the entrepreneurial and services economy.

The Rajya Sabha proceedings adjourned for the day on Monday after BJP MPs created a ruckus over the issue of reservation to Muslims in public contracts in Karnataka. Raising the issue in RS, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju said, “One of the senior members of the Congress party (Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar), who is holding a constitution post has made a statement that they’re going to change the constitution of India…he has stated that Congress party will provide reservation to the Muslim community and for that they (Congress) will change the Constitution of India. This statement cannot be taken lightly.”

With repeated adjournments in the Lok Sabha, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday said the government seems to have made up its mind that it does not want the House to function and finds some excuse or the other to create a ruckus.

"They seem to have made up their mind that they don't want the House to function. It's been many days now. They find some excuse or the other to (create ruckus)," Priyanka Gandhi told reporters in the Parliament complex after the Lok Sabha was adjourned for a second time during the day.

The BJP members have been raising the issue of reservation for Muslims in government contracts in Karnataka and claiming that the state's Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar purportedly suggested changing the Constitution to accommodate a four per cent quota for Muslims.

Shivakumar, has, however, said that he never stated the Constitution will be amended in any manner to give religion-based reservation. (PTI)

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor Monday slammed the BJP-government after both the Parliament houses were adjourned minutes after beginning the session today. "It is utterly shocking when you see that the ruling party, essentially the government, whose responsibility it is to run the House, has chosen to disrupt the Parliament in this way," Tharoor said.

"To my mind, the issue they have raised is also irrelevant because it is a State subject. It has nothing to do with the Central Parliament. Why are they trying to disrupt the House on the basis of that? Honestly, we are reducing the Parliament to a farce. If we don't function properly, why will the voters want to entrust their precious tax money to run this institution which we used to hail as the temple of democracy... If instead of prayers here, we are having shouting matches, it's really a big disappointment," he added further.

Both the houses witnessed repeated adjournments in the Lok Sabha over Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar's remarks suggesting changing the Constitution to accommodate four per cent reservation for Muslims in the state.

On Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar's remarks on Muslim reservation, BJP MP Lahar Singh Siroya said, "This is the biggest insult to BR Ambedkar. Congress is working on instructions of its high command and the Gandhi family. DK Shivakumar is the only one who has given a lifeline to Congress... It is up to the opposition parties whether they will stay with Congress or keep accepting the humiliation being meted to BR Ambedkar."

Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar on 4 per cent Muslim reservation in the state, said, "I am sensible, senior politician than (JP) Nadda. I have been in the Assembly since last 36 years. I have basic common sense. I have not said that there will be any... I have said casually that there will be so many changes after various judgments. I have not said that we are going to change the Constitution. Whatever they are quoting is wrong. They are misquoting it. We are a national party, we know what Constitution is. I will take breach of privilege on this. I will fight a case; they are misquoting me."

After expressing concern over the incident of cash allegedly being found in Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma’s home, Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar has called for a meeting with Leader of the House J P Nadda and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday morning to discuss judicial accountability, sources said.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha on March 21 in response to Congress MP Jairam Ramesh’s observations, Dhankhar referred to the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act, which was passed by Parliament, but later scrapped by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional.

“That historic legislation endorsed by this Parliament with unprecedented consensual support unknown to parliamentary history of this country dealt with the malaise very severely. If the malaise had been dealt with perhaps we would not have countenanced such kind of issues (the alleged cash case). What bothers me is that the incident happened and did not immediately surface,” he said.

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India is aware of China establishing two new counties, parts of which fall in Ladakh, and has registered a "solemn" protest through diplomatic channels, the government told Parliament on Friday.

"The Government of India has never accepted the illegal Chinese occupation of Indian Territory in this area. Creation of new counties will neither have a bearing on India's long-standing and consistent position regarding India's sovereignty over the area, nor lend legitimacy to China's illegal and forcible occupation of the same," Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said this in a written response to a query in Lok Sabha.

The government has registered its "solemn protest over these developments through diplomatic channels", he said.

The ministry was asked whether the government is aware of "China's establishment of two new counties in the Hotan prefecture, incorporating Indian territory in Ladakh", if so, the strategic and diplomatic measures undertaken by the government to address this issue. (PTI)