• By Vivek Raj
  • Mon, 22 Jul 2024 08:56 AM (IST)
  • Source:JND

Budget Session: The Budget Session of Parliament commences today and is anticipated to be stormy as BJP is facing a series of challenges including special status demands from allies, and opposition protests over various issues, including the recent Kanwar Yatra order in Uttar Pradesh. The three-week session will see Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presenting the 2024-25 budget, making her the finance minister to present the Union Budget for seven consecutive years.

The session is expected to be turbulent as it comes against a backdrop of multiple issues. Controversies surrounding the Kanwar Yatra in Uttar Pradesh, the NEET-UG ‘scam,’ and internal security situations in Jammu and Kashmir and Manipur are expected to dominate discussions. The Opposition plans to address these issues, which were not fully discussed in the previous session.

Economic Survey To Be Presented

The session will kick off with the Economic Survey being presented to the Lok Sabha around 1 pm. The survey provides an in-depth overview of the country's economic performance over the past financial year, covering key sectors such as agriculture, industry, and services.

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It includes extensive data on economic indicators including GDP growth, inflation rates, employment figures, and fiscal deficit. The Union Budget will be presented on Tuesday.

Expected Discussions In This Session

Following the budget presentation on Tuesday, discussions are expected to be stormy. The Opposition has prepared a list of issues for debate, including the NEET-UG controversy, the Kanwar Yatra order in Uttar Pradesh, and the internal security situation in Jammu and Kashmir and Manipur.

In addition to these issues, the BJP is also facing demands from its allies. The party’s partners from Bihar are calling for Special Category status, while similar demands are being raised by Andhra Pradesh's YSR Congress and Odisha's Biju Janata Dal.

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At an all-party meeting held on July 21, Congress urged that these topics be discussed during the session. With the BJP lacking a majority in the Lok Sabha, it will rely heavily on its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners, including the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Janata Dal (United) led by Nitish Kumar, to navigate the session's challenges. This monsoon session is scheduled to have 19 sittings and will run until August 12.