Parliament adjourned sine die after Budget Session
Parliament adjourned sine die on Friday after conclusion of the Budget Session which saw presentation of the first full Budget of the Narendra Modi Government’s third consecutive term in office.
The Budget Session of the Uttar Pradesh Legislature, slated to commence from tomorrow, is expected to be a stormy one. The Yogi Adityanath government will table its second budget of its second term on February 22.
On the opening day on Monday at 1100 hrs, Governor Anandiben Patel will address the joint session of the legislature which is likely to be noisy with opposition disturbing the governor’s address.
For the first time after 65-year of of the state legislature, a new rulebook modifying the old “The Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of UP Legislative Assembly 1958” will be tabled and adopted to run the house. Around 70 per cent of the existing rule of proceedings have either been changed or removed in this new book.
The customary all-party meeting was held on Sunday which was chaired by assembly Speaker Satish Mahana in the presence of the Chief Minister and other party leaders. The CM also inaugurated the digital legislative gallery in the Vidhan Bhawan on the occasion.
The Budget Session will see an aggressive Opposition trying to corner the BJP government on the issue of development and growth. Sources within the Samajwadi Party say Leader of Opposition in the assembly, Akhilesh Yadav, will himself lead the charge.
SP which held its legislature party meeting on Sunday has geared up to attack the state BJP government’s recently concluded Global Investors Summit and big claims of investment proposals made around it. Besides, the SP will also press its demand for caste census during this session.
Sources say the SP intends to further fan the debate around the sensitive question of caste census. The ruling BJP, meanwhile, is keen to keep the focus on the ‘Vikas’ (development) narrative that has been set in motion through the investors summit and investment proposals to the tune of Rs 33.50 lakh crore.
BJP also held a meeting of its legislators today, where Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath gave pep talks to the members about what will be their role inside the house. The state budget that will be tabled by the finance minister Suresh Khanna on February 22 will have the reflection of optimism created through the recent summit and the budget amount could cross Rs 7 lakh crore.
Sources say the size of the budget is likely to grow by around Rs 50,000 crore as compared to the one for the previous financial year of 2022-2023. Ahead of the general elections next year, the budget is likely to focus on creation of jobs for the youth, empowering women and farmers and further upgrading the state’s healthcare infrastructure.
The last budget of the government with Akhilesh Yadav as the Chief Minister in 2016 was roughly around Rs 2 lakh crore. The government claims that better financial discipline over the years and focus on infrastructure and industry development has brought the change, which can propel the state to be a one trillion dollar economy by 2027.
SP’s Chief Whip in the assembly Manoj Kumar Pandey said: “We cannot disclose our floor strategy for the Vidhan Sabha but there is no denying the fact that big numbers and fancy claims around the summit are nothing more than a bundle of lies. As a responsible Opposition, we will expose the government on all platforms, both within the Vidhan Sabha and outside.”
State Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said: “The Opposition is already exposed in the people’s court. Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government has brought a remarkable change in the state. The investors’ summit has been a grand success and in November this year, people will see the first mega ground-breaking ceremony based on the MoUs signed in the summit.”
The Yogi Adityanath government is also likely to face the Opposition’s barbs on the law and order front, especially in the backdrop of the recent death of a mother and her daughter while opposing the anti-encroachment drive in Kanpur Dehat.
As per the programme approved by the Business Advisory Committee of the assembly, the session commencing on February 20 is likely to continue till March 10. The Vote of Thanks on the Governor’s speech is likely to conclude on February 24 and discussion on the budget will begin on February 25.
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