Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced his ministers in the Lok Sabha as the BJP-led government's first Budget Session began today. (File photo)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced his ministers in the Lok Sabha as the BJP-led government's first Budget Session began today. But soon after the session began, both Houses saw slogan-shouting and demand for immediate discussions over the issue of rise in prices of essential commodities by the Opposition parties.
Here are the 10 latest developments:
The government finally agreed to discuss price rise under a clause that does not entail voting, and allotted two and a half hours for the debate. In the morning, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu had said after an all-party meeting that, "The government is ready to discuss any issue raised by the Opposition."
The Opposition parties too had made their intentions clear. "The Opposition demands discussion on price rise on day one," said leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Malikarjun Kharge.
As Congress activists protested a kilometre away in Jantar Mantar, senior party leader Kamal Nath said, "This government talked about Achhe Din (good days). It will be exposed."
In the coming days, the controversy over the government rejecting the name of former Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium for appointment as a Supreme Court judge as well as the rape controversy surrounding Union Minister Nihalchand, are among the issues that are expected to be taken up.
The Congress, which met this morning to discuss its floor strategy, will also focus on securing the post of Leader of Opposition, for which it does not technically qualify with 44 MPs. The Congress is entitled to this post, party president Sonia Gandhi today told reporters in Parliament. "We are the single largest party and we have a pre-poll alliance. We are entitled to the post," she asserted.
According to Parliament rules, the biggest Opposition party in the House has to have at least 10 per cent of the total strength of the Lok Sabha, or 55 seats, to be eligible for the post of Leader of Opposition. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan has to take a call on whether the Congress gets this post.
The BJP meanwhile is looking to shore up its strength in the Upper House for smooth passage of bills. Bills have to be passed by both Houses to become law.
The Budget Session which began today and ends on August 14, will include 28 sittings and around 170 work hours. While the Railway Budget is scheduled for tomorrow, the economic survey is expected to be released the next day. The Union Budget on the other hand will be presented on Thursday.
Apart from the Budget the government has lined up bills that have to be passed by Parliament soon.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is also expected to brief the Parliament on the government's efforts to evacuate Indians from war-ton Iraq, including its success last week in bringing home 46 nurses who were trapped in a hospital in Tikrit.
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