New Delhi, April 6: The budget session concluded on Thursday after both houses of Parliament adjourned amid heavy opposition protests.
The second phase of the budget session has been marred almost every day since it began on March 13, with Bharatiya Janata Party MPs demanding an apology from Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for his remarks in London. They were saying that democracy is under attack in India.
Opposition parties are also protesting Gandhi’s disqualification as a Lok Sabha member after he was convicted in a defamation case. They are also demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the allegations made by US firm Hindenburg Research about the Adani Group.
On Thursday, several MPs from opposition parties took out a “tricolor march” from Parliament House to Vijay Chowk, alleging that the BJP was attacking democracy.
Apart from the Congress, MPs from DMK, Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Bala Sahib Thackeray), Aam Aadmi Party and National Congress Party were present at the march.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, “If the government is not listening, it is stubborn.” The entire Parliament session was like smoke. If you want democracy to survive, it is important to listen to the opposition.”
Meanwhile, the BJP accused the Congress of disrupting the Houses.
Union Law Minister Kiran Rijiju alleged that the Congress and other opposition parties created ruckus in the House and insulted Parliament by wearing black clothes.
“It is unfortunate for the country,” Rijiju said. We want the dignity of Parliament to be preserved. What the Congress and its supporters are doing for an MP Rahul Gandhi, the nation is watching.”
On May 24, the Lok Sabha had approved the Union Budget for the financial year 2023-24, envisaging an outlay of around Rs 45 lakh crore, without any debate. Demands for grants and appropriations bills allocating funds to various ministries came amid protests in the Lok Sabha from both the opposition and treasury benches.
Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha has worked for a little more than 45 hours during the budget session against the scheduled duration of 133.6 hours, while the Rajya Sabha has worked for only 31 hours out of the scheduled 130 hours.
Both the Houses of Parliament faced repeated adjournments even during the question break.
Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha chairperson Jagdeep Dhankar said a “new tradition” of disorderly conduct was emerging in Parliament.