NEW DELHI: The budget session of Parliament resumes on Monday in the shadow of a spate of controversies along the ‘opposition vs government’ battleline, ranging from Trump’s comments on tariffs, duplicate voter identity card numbers, three-language policy and delimitation, amid indications that the non-budget issues may set off fireworks.
Adding to the clutch of issues being debated in public are the renewed violence in Manipur and the Waqf amendment bill. The government is scheduled to bring a resolution to seek Parliament’s approval for proclamation of President’s rule in Manipur, and the opposition will use the discussion to raise the two years of continuing ethnic strife in the northeastern state. The state’s budget too will come up for discussion.
FM to table Manipur budget today, Shah to seek Prez rule nod
The Centre last month placed Manipur under President’s rule after the resignation of beleaguered CM N Biren Singh. Also, the Centre is expected to bring the controversial Waqf bill for passage, which is being opposed by the entire opposition. Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju has indicated that govt was in favour of early passage of the Waqf bill on which NDA allies have pledged support.
Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman is to table the budget for Manipur on Monday, which has been under President’s rule since Feb 13. Home minister Amit Shah is expected to move a resolution seeking Parliament’s approval for proclamation of President’s rule in the state. The three-language policy and delimitation have become contentious in the south, with states banding together to question the Centre.
Trump’s disparaging statements about India’s tariffs, and his recent announcement that India has agreed to lower tariffs, have elicited strong statements from Congress about the interests of India’s farmers and manufacturers. The party has demanded that the prime minister take Parliament into confidence on the discussions with the US about the proposed trade deal.
At the same time, the opposition will corner government over the issue of duplicate EPIC numbers, which has become controversial after the claims by Trinamool Congress in West Bengal.