During the Budget session on Tuesday, the Opposition sought discussions on the Wayanad landslide, train derailment in Jharkhand, and the coaching centre incident in Delhi, while Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman defended the Union Budget. 📌Wayanad tragedy Rahul Gandhi urged the government to support rescue operations in Wayanad where a series of landslides claimed over 90 lives. “We need to restore transport and communication lines and set up relief camps,” he said. Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, assured the House of the Centre’s commitment, saying that “two NDRF teams, two Army columns, and two IAF helicopters have been deployed for search and rescue operations.” However, the Chair, Jagdeep Dhankhar, denied additional discussions, stating, “The State government and Centre are taking measures for the same.” 📌Train mishaps under the lens: ‘Why is the Minister not submitting a report?’ The derailment of the Howrah-CSMT Express in Jharkhand, which left two dead and several injured and raised alarms about railway safety, was also brought up in Parliament. TMC MP Sudip Bandopadhyay said, “Safety is a challenge in the railways; accidents are taking place.” He demanded accountability from the Railways Minister. This call for accountability was supported by the Opposition. Akhilesh Yadav said, “The government must prioritise passenger safety. We cannot afford to lose more lives due to negligence.” 📌 In defence of the Budget Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman faced scrutiny as she defended Union Budget. The Congress party accused the government of neglecting Opposition-ruled states, with Rahul Gandhi, saying “This Budget must be rejected by the House,” criticising the lack of provisions for student loan relief amid rising unemployment. In response, Sitharaman asserted, “In 2014-15, 26 states were not named in the Budget speech. Were they ignored? Why are you creating ruckus?” She emphasised that allocations had increased across sectors, claiming, “Agriculture had 0.30 lakh crore in 2013-14; now it is 1.52 lakh crore.” 📌 Critique of the Agnipath Scheme Akhilesh Yadav addressed the Agnipath scheme, which aims to recruit individuals into the armed forces on a short-term basis. He declared, “We cannot accept Agniveer; we will scrap it when we come to power.” He argued that the Agnipath initiative undermines the recruitment process, stating, “This scheme is a betrayal of our youth and a threat to national security. We need soldiers who are committed long-term.” 📌 Concerns over coaching centres The deaths of three students in a Delhi coaching centre due to flooding also dominated discussions. Members debated the need for stricter regulations to prevent such incidents. 📌 Ruckus over Rahul’s remarks BJP MP Anurag Thakur took a swipe at Rahul Gandhi saying, “Don’t become a reel Minister; you have to tell the truth to become a real Minister.” This remark led to a backlash from the Opposition. Responding to Thakur's jibe pertaining to his caste, Gandhi responded, “Insult me as much as you can, but we will pass the caste census.” 📌 Focus on employment and unemployment Yadav criticised the government’s economic policies, saying, “The youth are struggling to find jobs, and this Budget does nothing to alleviate their suffering.” He pointed out that there are 10 lakh vacancies in the government of India, yet this Budget does not mention filling them. Union Minister JP Nadda backed the government’s focus on job creation, stating, “The focus is on job creation. An employment-linked incentive scheme will generate millions of new jobs. The Budget emphasises skill development, boosting agricultural productivity, and supporting the manufacturing sector.” Sitharaman said the NDA government created 12.5 crore jobs over 10 years, in contrast to the UPA's 2.3 crore. “India’s inflation between 2020-23 is lower than the global average,” she said. However, Congress’ Karti Chidambaram countered, “This Budget lacks compassion. There are 10 lakh vacancies, yet it doesn’t talk about filling them.” 📌 Chidambaram’s critique Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram criticised the government’s economic policies, stating, “The Budget reflects the government’s failure to address real issues. It lacks vision and fails to provide solutions to the unemployment crisis.” He added, “You cannot create jobs by merely increasing allocations; you need a concrete plan.” 📌 Dhankhar’s OBC status in the docket The session took a turn when the Opposition questioned Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar’s OBC status. Dhankhar replied, “I am proud to be a Jat, and Jats are considered OBCs in Rajasthan and in the Central list.” 📌 Perspectives from the Floor The session highlighted regional concerns, with Congress MP S Supongmeren Jamir lamenting the lack of road connectivity for Nagaland. CPI(M) leader AA Rahim expressed alarm over the dismantling of permanent employment, stating, “Living in India is challenging today.” In a notable moment, Outer Manipur MP Alfred Kan-Ngam Arthur criticised the government's inaction in his state, saying, “When you cannot bring peace to a small State, how can you do so in the entire country?” He also sought the removal of the Manipur CM N Biren Singh.
