Parliament Budget Session July 24 highlights

Earlier, reacting to the protests from the opposition benches over his remarks against MP Gaurav Gogoi, Mr Gangopadhyay pointed to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi introducing a picture of Lord Shiva to the house. “The other a gentleman was playing with the picture of Lord Shiva, instead of taking shelter (under Lord Shiva), he should take the side of the common man,” the Tamluk MP stated as he tried to display a picture himself. Speaker Om Birla objected to the use of the picture. He also told the house that earlier he had objected to Mr Gandhi, and he would not allow the same in the present instance. After the conclusion of the Tamluk MP’s speech, the house was adjourned for the day. 

Chaos erupted in the lower house after BJP MP from Tamluk Abhijit Gangopadhyay made an unparliamentary remark against Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi. Notwithstanding the protests, Mr Gangopadhyay made another remark that irked the opposition members protesting. 

Reacting to the chaos, Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal attempted to assure the protesting opposition members stating unparliamentary remarks would be expunged from the records. However, he stated that Mr Gogoi’s question was not apt as well. Speaker Om Birla too returned to his chair and assured Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi that he would look into the issue. He urged members to not make unsubstantiated remarks against any member. 

Mr Yadav accused the government of reducing education budgets and wreck the appointment mechanism for professors in universities. Earlier, mentioning about the budget’s stated prerogative about upskilling and apprenticeship, the Azamgarh MP had stated the government was not focussing on providing employment opportunities. 

Separately, the Azamgarh MP mentioning about social empowerment held that in the NDA regime of 10 years the share of wealth among the underprivileged class in the overall tally stood at 9% compared to 17% when the government was formed in 2014. 

Upper House to reconvene on July 25 at 11 AM

RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha raises the allocation to Right To Education Act, Punjab MP Raghav Chaddha urges Centre to bring back Raja Ranjit Singh’s throne from London. BJD MP Sulata Deo seeks increase one-stop centres to aid women in Odisha

He elaborated the accorded support for manufacturing sector, package for employment generation, scaling and upscaling of youth are among the key highlights of the budget. Mr Mahtab stated that the Rs 1.48 lakh crore allocation reflected government’s commitment to harnessing the potential of India’s demographic dividend. 

DMK MP P Wilson raises issue of funds for Kundankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu. AAP MP Dr. Ashok Kumar Mittal raises of deaths due to stray animals. 

BJP MP Kavita Patidar is in the Chair 

He described the budget having no coherent spending plan and an analytical framework and does not carry the stated vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’. “The government is selling a penthouse in a building whose foundations are shaking, canopy has collapsed, lift shaft is yet to be installed and workers are starving,” he stated. 

Mr Tharoor said the budget lacked originality, ambition and strategy. It didn’t address questions relating to education, health and investments, he held. 

Expressing concerns about foreign investors were pulling out money, he pointed FDI as a ratio of GDP collapsing from an average 2% of GDP to 0.5% of GDP. 

AITC MP Sagarika Ghose raises the issue of proper implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Guarantee scheme. 

Dr. Kanimozhi NVN Somu, DMK MP, speaks about the lack of sanitation facilities like toilets and clean water in workplaces and educational institutions. She highlights that this impacts health, hygiene, safety and self-esteem of women

Mr Tharoor stated notwithstanding the treasury stating about upskilling and enabling skills, there was no mention of primary and higher education in the budget. He told the house that records suggested that there were 35 lakh students who had to dropped out of school. “This was not (just) an indication of economic failure that they had to drop out of school to join the informal economy to sustain their families but the future of India moving away from the path of knowledge”, he added, “that while leaving school might not be in their hands but getting them back to school is in the government’s hands.” 

MPs bring up special mentions about a variety of subjects. 

YSRCP MP Ayodhya Rami Reddy Alla raises a request to create a unified law to deal with industrial accidents, while BJP MP Dr. Anil Bonde raises the issue of a hike in import duty on oranges from Vidharbha in Maharashtra to Bangladesh.

Sujeet Kumar, BJD MP from Odisha, raises the matter of establishing a tribal circuit in Odisha under the Swadesh Darshan scheme. AAP MP Sanjay Singh brings up the issue of elder neglect and abuse. He urges the government to take measures to ensure their social and economic welfare. 

CPI MP P.P Suneer makes a request for the improvement of the Kozhikode airport, while BJP MP Medha Kulkarni brings up the matter of poor upkeep of Shaniwarwada in Pune. 

Ms Sule sought how the government was making claims about getting people out of poverty citing the multidimensional poverty index when they were obligated to feed the poor. 

NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule concluded her speech seeking that the government do not accord them “step-motherly treatment” 

Speaking about fiscal deficit target for FY 2025, Ms Sule expressed concerns about the treasury being able to attain the mentioned target. 

She stated that the number was placed not because of the policies of the government, but the RBI who gave the government a dividend of Rs 2 lakh crore.

MPs raise points of order as H.D Devegowda, ex PM and JD(S) MP, deviates from his special mention about natural calamities in Karnataka to make a political speech. Mr. Devegowda said that no one from the State government visited the families of the nine persons who passed away in a recent tragedy in Karnataka. 

The Baramati MP stated that FMCGs have resorted to ‘shrinkflation’ which has had an impact on jobs and the economy at large. 

Earlier in her speech, Ms Sule had also raised concerns about lowered overall consumption in the economy. “Consumption is clearly not doing well especially the agrarian crisis and rural economy”, she stated earlier. 

The Baramati MP sought the government introspect why the investment climate was not “as good as it should be”. 

AITC MP Sagarika Ghosh cites a World Inequality Lab report to say that India in 2024 is more unequal than during colonial rule during the 1920s. 

The budget needs to be about real people, she says, highlighting that there are several inequalities in it. 

She highlights that Andhra Pradesh and Bihar have received high funding, and questions why these States are receiving largesse only because they have allied with the NDA at the Centre. 

She also points out that there are inequality traps -- in rural areas, in employment, in health, and several other sectors. 

Arguing that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had promised to the house that elections would be held within a year in the erstwhile state, the house was now tasked with clearing its demand for grants. 

“They deserve to make their own decisions for themselves,” she stated. 

BJP MP Deepak Prakash says that this is the budget which will lay the path towards Viksit Bharat. He highlights that this budget sees provisions both for the employer as well as employee. The budget has kept economic progress as a goal, he says. 

AGP MP Birendra Prasad Baishya says that the success of any economic policy depends on agriculture, services and benefits, and says that this government has given equal importance to manufacturing, the agricultural sector and service. We have continuously achieved 7% growth, he says. 

He asserts that this Union budget is for the farmers, sharing that the budget has allocated Rs. 1. 27 lakh crores for farmer’s welfare and agricultural sector. Further, the budget is going to invest Rs. 2. 78 lakh crores for infrastructure development.

Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora says that every expenditure, incentive and subsidy of the government should be directed towards three objectives. The first of these is to create as much employment as possible and onshore jobs that were lost to China. The second objective is to rework our supply chains and reduce dependence on countries that can become hostile to us. The third objective is simultaneously greening our economy while achieving and solving the two former objectives. 

He also says that bringing manufacturing to India is crucial. 

The next speaker to speak on the discussion on 2024 Union Budget, Dayanidhi Maran of the DMK, launches a scathing attack on the Narendra Modi-led government. “Lakhs of crores of public money were spent to promote Modi ka guaratee before Lok Sabha polls. After the election, Modi ka guarantee is replaced with Modi ka insurance. Premium is being paid by the people to ensure he continues as PM,” says the DMK MP. 

BJD MP Sujeet Kumar highlights that the States of Andhra Pradesh and Bihar received what he calls a “budget bonanza.” 

He offers examples: Rs. 26,000 crore have been granted to Bihar for road projects, while Rs. 15,000 crore this fiscal and the next have been granted to Andhra Pradesh for development of the capital city of Amravati. He also points out that the government has promised support for loans from multilateral agencies for Bihar and AP.

The Finance Minister also announced a backward region grant for three districts of Odisha, he says, but adds that other regions of Odisha are equally backward as these districts. 

We don’t grudge this budget bonanza for Bihar and AP, we are happy they have gotten budgetary support, he says. “But why step motherly treatment for the other States?” he questions. 

He also questions the lack of an adequate focus on R&D, education, food and nutrition in the Union Budget, among other issues. He also says that we should spend at least 3% of our Budget on defense. 

AAP MP Sanjeev Arora requests that budget allocation for health be increased to 2.5% as mentioned in 2017 report of National Health Policy. He also highlights that issues in the sector can only be tackled by having healthcare for all. 

“You have failed to keep your promises. You give guarantees, but those come with zero warranty. Under this Budget, one thing is clear. The only thing that is growing faster than price rise and inflation is BJP’s list of broken promises and guarantees,” says Bengal MP Abhishek Banerjee.

DMK MP N.R Elango says that the word for sceptre in Tamil is not sengol, but merely gol/kol. If they read the Tirukkural, they will realise that if they govern well, it will be sengol, while a bad government would be kudongol, he says. 

He further quotes a verse from the Tirukkural, which translates as “The government of a nation will be spoiled everyday if the government is not doing justice every other day.”

The Budget and the attitude of the Union government shows who you are, he says.

“This government is depriving its students. The inability to conduct NEET is the biggest failure of this government. Jeopardising the future of almost 33 lakh students… INDIA demanded a discussion on this, but hardly a word on this from PM on this issue,” says the TMC MP in Lok Sabha.

“Our CM wrote to the PM for scrapping NEET in favour of reverting to a system where State governments conduct their medical tests. More than 12,000 vacancies in Kendriya Vidyalayas nationwide are yet to be filled. More than 7.5 lakh vacancies of teaching posts nationwide from Class 1 to Class 8. More than 1.2 lakh vacancies for teaching posts in Uttar Pradesh from Class 1 to Class 8. Students account for 8% of total suicide victims,” MP Abhishek Banerjee adds.

“This Budget is the most ant-federal Budget that we have seen in the last 20 years,” says AITC MP Jawhar Sircar. “They have declared an Economic War on Bengal,” he adds. 

He claims that the Government has done this because Bengal refuses to subscribe to their principle of hatred. “We do not believe in the hatred of minorities,” he adds.

TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee says, “Nobody is calling this government Modi 3.0. Not even the Finance Minister when she presented the Budget.” Speaking about the NDA coalition, he says, “It is so uncertain and fragile that it can implode anytime.”

Mr. Banerjee further takes a dig at the Centre and says, “After yesterday, one thing is clear, coalition means appeasement and compensation.”

AITC MP Jawhar Sircar says that the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman let off gold, silver, platinum, luxury cruise ships and angel tax, which have nothing to do with the common man. 

She hasn’t mentioned savings and matters relating to the common man, he says. 

He calls the Budget a “user-friendly political weapon.”

AITC MP Jawhar Sircar expresses his “deep sorrow at the wasted opportunity of a Finance Minister who has been there for seven years,” 

“I came into the Budget process 21 years ago and have draw and help execute budget,” he says, adding that he has never seen such an atrocious budget. 

He calls the Budget “a fig leaf for plutocracy.” 

Lashing out at the Narendra Modi-led government over an “anti-people” Budget, TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee says, “This Budget was planned by two individuals to keep another two in good faith, neglecting the aspirations of 140 crore people.” 

Mr. Banerjee adds, “On June 4, 2024, people of the country decisively rejected the Modi-led government and what we have now in place is a shaky coalition.”

BJP MP from UP Radha Mohan Das Agrawal reads out indices to explain that India is travelilng forward at a great speed.

He says that the Opposition is acting like they are not seeing it, and says that PM Modi is lifting the people of India from poverty, particularly multi-dimensional poverty.

Virendra Singh, Samjawadi Party MP from Chandauli, says the Union Budget 2024 seems like a “sarkaar bachao Budget”. “We didn’t, for once, hear the name of UP (Uttar Pradesh) in Finance Minister’s speech,” Mr. Singh says. He claimed the BJP was ignoring UP because of the General Election results. 

MP P Chidambaram puts forward five demands that he says he would urge the FM to copy from the Congress manifesto:

1. A minimum wage of ₹400 per day for every kind of employment. 

2. A legally guaranteed Minimum Support Price (MSP) .

3. Write off the unpaid balance of the interest/instalment of educational loans given up to March 2024. 

4. Complete abolition of the Agnipath scheme. 

5. Scrap NEET in the States that don’t want it to continue. 

P. Chidambaram says how the budgets of the majority of the States was slashed in the Budget.

He questions how why Bihar and Tamil Nadu did not receive relief funds. He reminds the Financial Minister that India is a Federal State.

He also criticises Nirmala Sitharaman saying that she hasn’t mentioned Tamil Nadu once in her 60-page speech, despite it being the State where she lived and did her schooling and college education.

High;ighting the issue of rising inflation, Mr. Chidambaram asks what deflators the government is employing. 

He also brings up the matter of wages. The FM said she has given relief, but to whom? He questions. 

A delegation of farmer leaders from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka met Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi in Parliament House complex today, and apprised him of the issues being faced by the tillers. Click here for full report

P. Chidambaram says that the employment -linked incentive was created probably because the performance- linked incentive did not create the expected number of jobs. He asks the Finance Minister to clarify further details about the PLI and what it has achieved. 

Interesting idea, but does not inspire confidence, he says, adding that it does not inspire confidence that 290 lakh people will be covered by the ELI scheme. 

He also highlights that there is a huge problem of unemployment in the nation. 

P. Chidambaram says that he wished to thank the FM for the employment-linked incentive scheme and other ideas incorporated in the early part of her speech. “I am particularly happy that she had the opportunity to read the Congress manifesto,” he said, saying that she picked good ideas from page 11, 30 and 31. He asks the Treasury Benches to read the Congress manifesto and suggest more good ideas from it. 

“Copying is not prohibited in this House,” he says. 

The House takes up discussion on Union Budget 2024-25 and J&K budget 2024-25 jointly. Ex- Finance minister P Chidambaram raises the discussion in the House. 

Kodikunnil Suresh, Congress MP from Mavelikkara (Kerala) says, “It is deeply concerning that total 99 Nipah Virus cases reported in more than two decades between 2001 and 2023 in India. Kerala has accounted for 28% of total Nipah cases in the country including the recent case in Kozhikode.” 

He says “The case fatality rate in the first outbreak peaking at 89.4% with 17 deaths out of 19 lab confirmed cases in Kozhikode and Mallapuram is a major cause for concerning as the second wave is rising and the state government is not serious.” 

He urges the government to send a special team to help Kerala.

June Maliah, TMC MP from Medinipur (West Bengal), raises concern about poor infrastructure facilities provided by the Railways in the quarters allotted to the low-income groups. 

She says, “The Railways don’t provide these colonies with basic infrastructure which is, water supply, electricity supply, and also sometimes toilets.” 

“The Municipality face no cooperation from the Railways,” the MP adds.

DMK MP P. Wilson raises periodical firing by the Sri Lankan Navy even when Tamil Nadu fishermen undertake fishing within the Indian territory. 

He also points out that several Tamil fishermen are languishing in Sri Lankan jail. 

Lalan Singh, Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, responds and says that the Joint Working Committee involved in talks with the Sri Lankan government will take note of the issue.

Amraram, CPI(M) MP from Sikar (Rajasthan), points to a shortage of water supply in four districts around Sikar. 

He says, “People are still struggling for drinking water. It’s been close to eight decades but still people have not got clean water from the Yamuna, which is part of Rajasthan.” 

T. M. Selvaganapathi, DMK MP from Salem (Tamil Nadu) raises concern over the fencing of railway tracks near Salem, affecting the livelihood of thousands of farmers living along the tracks. 

He says, “In the name of fencing the property, they [railway] are fencing the livelihood of the living along the railway tracks.” 

Fencing of railway tracks is mainly done to prevent encroachment of Railway land and it also prevents the entry of animals and vehicular traffic.

During the Zero Hour, Mr. Rai says that India is a peaceful country, with ‘full guarantee of security’. 

Any movement from terrorists will be eliminated quickly in India today, he adds.

Anita Subhadarshini, BJP MP, Aska (Odisha), raises question over Aska constituency being deprived of the railway service. She questions, “When will a final DPR will be sanctioned for the project?” 

Replying to the question, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Railway Minister says, “The funds allocation and progress of work in Odisha has seen huge increase in the last 10 years.” 

Mr. Vaishnaw says during the UPA regime, the funds allocated for a large and important state like Odisha was just ₹800 crore. He says, “Now the funds allocated are more than ₹10,000 crore every year for Odisha which is a huge jump from the previous years.”

Mr. Rai says that there was a time when Hindus faced dangerous situations in the region.

He says that when he went to Jammu and Kashmir recently, people of the State were doing well. 

This creates problems in asking supplementary questions, she says.

Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar interrupts her, says replies are available. “I have checked myself,” Mr. Dhankhar says.

She questions if the government is planning to develop an eco-tourism policy in Jammu and Kashmir because of its fragile ecosystem.

“Measures for cleanliness are in place. There is peace in the region, which is why the number of tourists has increased,” MoS Nityanand Rai responds.

Kesineni Sivanath, TDP MP from Vijayawada, raises questions over the funds allocated and utilised for the Vijayawada Railway station under the Amrit Bharat Station scheme. 

Replying to the question, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Railway Minister, said he will share a detailed report with the MP. He said, “Vijayawada junction is a very complex station...” 

He said, “Planning is done keeping in mind the next 50 years.” 

Gyaneshwar Patil, BJP MP (Khandwa), raises concern over no direct trains connecting Khandwa and nearby areas directly to Nagpur. 

Replying to the concern, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Railway Minister says “More than 40 trains run between Bhusawal and Nagpur. However, the train number mentioned by the Minister which used to function before COVID became unoperational due to the increase in distance.” 

However, Mr. Vaishnaw added that he would welcome the concerned MP to sit with him and workout an alternative plan to cater the mentioned regions. 

In Rajya Sabha, a BJP MP Iranana Kadadi speaks in Kannada. He raises the issue of a Dalit man killed in Karnataka’s Yadgir. 

Mallikarjun Kharge intervenes. He questions why a state issue is being raised in rajya sabha. “A lot of murders are happening in several states. We can also raise all these here,” he says. 

Answering a question on Budget allocation for railway connectivity to districts in Kerala, like Kottayam, Idukki and more, Mr. Vaishnaw says that MPs should use their positions to get support for land acquisition. 

The Railway Minister also compares the allocation for railways in Kerala with the previous government. “Under the UPA government, the allocation for Kerala used to be only ₹372 crores per year. In the financial year 2023-24, the allocation for railway projects in Kerala was ₹2033 crores,” he says. 

The projects can be taken up only if the State supports land acquisition, the Railway Minister adds.

“Zero has been given to the Bengal in the Budget and Zero has given to battle the floods of Malda...” said All India Trinamool Congress MP Mausam Noor.

She said even though the government calls itself generous, it has not given anything to the relief of Malda floods which was more devastating than previous years.

Narrating the uniqueness of Jagannath Yatra, BJD MP Shubhashish Khuntia says to celebrate shared cultural heritage, it should be declared as a national holiday

DMK MP Rajesh Kumar says over 118 km Chennai Metro project is underway and the Centre is yet to release funds. The floating population of Chennai travel at least 25 kilometres.

He also uses the opportunity to reiterate INDIA bloc’s stand that the Centre is meting out discriminatory behaviour to oppostion-ruled states. 

Rajini Patil says 18% GST on medical insurance is discouraging people from opting for an health insurance. “We saw how important medical insurance was during the pandemic,” she says. 

Coal Minister G. Kishan Reddy, while responding to a query during Lok Sabha’s Question Hour, dismisses allegations of privatisation in the sector. “In Singareni coal fields, 51% stake is held by the State government and 49% by the government of India. The administration is fully under the State government. I’d like to assure everyone through Parliament that privatisation of Singareni is not the goal. We only want to strengthen it,” he says.

In July, The Hindu reported that the Indian government is set to auction coal-bearing seams of Singareni coal mines, the reserves of which stretch 350 square kilometres in Telangana. While the current mining company is a joint venture between the government of India and Telangana State, the auction will create another stakeholder for the mining operations in the region. 

Read more here

AAP member Ashok Kumar Mittal raises the issue of Air India Kanishka bombing. He notes the victims haven’t been compensated and the accussed are still at large. He wonders why Canada, a democratic and soverign state, hasn’t done enough to bring justice. 

Rudra Narayan Pany, BJP MP from Dhenkanal (Odisha), questioned the establishment of one medical college in each district. He further added “Will a medical college be constructed in Dhenkanal?” 

Replying to the question’ Rao Inderjit Singh, MoS (IC) Planning says, “Odisha has a total of ten aspirational districts. Out of these districts, the total number of projects sanctioned is four with a sanction amount ₹126 crore. The Health Ministry could answer the question in a better way.”

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addresses the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge’s criticism that she has mentioned only two states in the Budget. She said, “In every Budget, you don’t get the time to name every state of the country.”

Nirmala Sitharaman said 76,000 crore has been announced for Maharashtra. She stated that they have not ignored Maharashtra just because she has not mentioned Maharashtra’s name in the Budget. She quoted this as an example while replying to Mr. Kharge’s criticism. 

She also said that Congress which has ruled the party before and presented so many budgets should understand this.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiran Rijiju in Lok Sabha says, “During the meeting, every floor leader of the political party agreed that the house should function properly...” 

He says, “Then coming here in the house and disturbing the proceedings of the Question Hour is not right.” 

‘You have the audacity to ask me now?’ Nirmala Sitharaman says pointing out at Trinamool Congress members. Several schemes brought out by the Centre haven’t been implemented by Bengal govt in the last ten years, she retorts. 

Trinamool Congress members protest. “How can she take name of West Bengal Chief Minister [when she is not a member of the House]?” a Trinamool member asks. 

In Rajya Sabha, Opposition MPs walk out saying non-BJP ruled states were not even mentioned in Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s speech. 

Ms. Sitharaman counters: “I didn’t mention Maharashtra, but we have approved a port in the State. it is worth Rs. 76,000 crores.”

The expenditure account clearly item-wise mentions all allocation. This is a deliberate attempt by Congress to malign the government, she says. This is an outrageous allegation, she adds. 

Did Congress FMs mention all State names during their Budget speeches, she asks. 

Protesting against the budget, Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge said, “This Budget is anti-people, no one has got justice. They have talked about special package but special status has not been given. This is a deceptive budget and injustice to the people.” The MPs raised placards such as ‘We want India budget not NDA budget’ and ‘NDA betrays India in Budget’.

Read more here

INDIA bloc MPs protest in the Lower House against “discriminatory” Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday.

Kiren Rijiju notes that the entrance of Lok Sabha was being blocked by Opposition.

Congress MP Kirsan Namdeo questions why railways work in his constituency, Gadchiroli-Chimur, is slow.

Vice President Jaideep Dhankar notes in the last 36 years only six times a motion to suspend regular business and take up a matter of concern for discussion was taken up. 

He rejects all such notices. 

Mallikarjun Kharge says only two states benefitted from yesterday’s budget. “only two plates got pakora and jelabi, nothing in other plates,” he remarks. 

Following a discussion on Budget, the upper House will discuss Jammu and Kashmir Budget for five hours, following which, it will be returned to the Lok Sabha. 

House begins with protests, Speaker Om Birla requests members to allow the House to run peacefully

President of International Parliamentary Union and the Speaker of National Assembly of Tanzania Tulia Ackson are in the gallery watching the proceedings. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar welcomes both of them. 

They watched the Union Budget proceedings yesterday. 

As INDIA bloc continues to stage protest, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said, “There is very little for most states. There were a few expectations for Kerala, especially in the health sector, but all of them have not been fulfilled. Each state has its own issue to point to...” 

Expressing his unhappiness over the Budget, Congress leader K.C. Venugopal who is also Alappuzha Lok Sabha member, says while they are happy for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, other states too have to get their due share. 

On why he has given adjournment motion, Congress member Manickam Tagore explains: 

Members from INDIA bloc protested against what they termed as discriminatory Union Budget, outside the Parliament entrance on Wednesday.

“This is a deceptive Budget... injustice,” said Congress president and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge. To a question if the opposition will participate in the Budget discussion, Mr Kharge says: “Let’s see”. 

Members from Trinamool Congress, DMK, Left parties, DMK, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) were also seen participating in the protest.

Congress member from Virudhunagar Manickam Tagore has submitted adjournment motion in Lok Sabha to discuss the alleged negligence of Tamil Nadu in the Union Budget. 

The same notion has been echoed by various members from Tamil Nadu. The State Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin, on Tuesday said he would boycott NITI-Aayog summit to protest the step-motherly treatment meted out in the State. 

A general discussion on the Union Budget and the budget for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for the fiscal year 2024-25 is scheduled in Rajya Sabha. 

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who is a Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka, tabled the Budget in the upper House after reading it out in Lok Sabha. 

The Opposition isn’t too happy with the Budget. They called it an exercise in political jugglery and it did little to address issues that affect the common man. They also said that States ruled by non-NDA parties were ignored.

MPs of the INDIA bloc, the main Opposition bloc, are planning to stage a protest against the Budget. 

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Budget 2024: States ruled by non-NDA parties ignored, says Opposition; four CMs to boycott Niti Aayog meet

Rahul Gandhi and opposition leaders criticize Union Budget 2024-25 for hollow promises and lack of substantial announcements.

In her Budget Speech, Ms. Sitharaman laid down nine priorities of the NDA government:

1. Productivity and resilience in agriculture
2. Employment and skilling
3. Inclusive Human resource development and social justice
4. Manufacturing and services
5. Support for promotion of MSMEs
6. Urban development
7. Energy security
8. Infrastructure
9. Innovation, research and development