No space for Opposition issues, says Congress as Budget Session ends early

The first 3 days of the second part of the Budget Session which began on March 8 witnessed repeated disruptions on issues ranging from high fuel prices to farm laws

The Budget Session of the Parliament concluded on Thursday, two weeks ahead of schedule in view of the elections to five state assemblies with political parties eager to hit the campaign trail.

Legislative agenda dominated the 23-day Session that had begun on January 23, with the Opposition slamming the government for not allowing discussion on issues ranging from rising fuel prices to guidelines for digital media in Parliament.

“In my 17 years in Parliament, it is for the first time that not a single demand of the Opposition to have Calling Attention Motion, Short Duration Discussion was accepted,” Jairam Ramesh, chief whip of the Congress in the Rajya Sabha, told reporters here.

Read: Parliament passes Bill to set up National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development

He said that Congress leaders in both the Houses had given notices to raise issues such as curbs on digital media, panic privatisation, rising fuel prices, farmers’ protests but none was accepted by the government.

“It means that the government is not keen or prepared for discussion on these issues,” Ramesh said.

The first three days of the second part of the Budget Session which began on March 8 witnessed repeated disruptions on issues ranging from high fuel prices to farm laws, with little business being transacted.

In the Lok Sabha, the valedictory remarks were made by Bhartruhari Mahtab, who was in the chair, as Speaker Om Birla is recuperating from Covid-19.

“The Lok Sabha had 24 sittings that stretched over 134 hours. The productivity of the Lok Sabha was 114%,” Mahtab said.

Read: Govt to release pending funds of 2019-20 under MPLADS

The Rajya Sabha functioned for a total of 104 hours and 23 minutes during its 23 sittings.

“The productivity of the House has been about 90%,” Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said.

“Total number of Bills passed by both Houses of Parliament is 18,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi told reporters here.

Besides the Union Budget, key Bills that were approved by Parliament include the Insurance (Amendment) Bill, the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development Bill, The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill and the Government of National Capital of Delhi (Amendment) Bill.