Parliament Budget Session Day 6 updates: ‘Low allocation for manufacturing, agriculture in budget’ say Opposition MPs

Speaker Om Birla announced that the House would resume proceedings on Monday, February 10 at 11 a.m. 

Adv. Chandrashekhar of the Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) party, said that the poor had a lot of expectations from the budget, but was disappointed after it was announced. He said that in 2023-24, the SCs and STs received 3.43% of the budget when the population is around 22%-25%. This year it has been reduced to 3.3% of the budget. 

The government spent more than Rs 66 crore in financial year 2023-24 on contesting cases, which was over Rs 9 crore more as compared to the previous fiscal, a written reply in the Lok Sabha said on Friday.

Since 2014-15, the amount incurred by the government has gone up, barring two fiscals when the Covid-19 pandemic was at its peak, it said.

In 2014-15, the cost incurred on litigation stood at Rs 26.64 crore, whereas in 2015-16, it was Rs 37.43 crore, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal told the Lok Sabha in the written reply.

Responding to a separate question, Meghwal said the total number of cases pending for more than 10 years in the Supreme Court stood at 7,178 as on February 2 this year, out of which 5,990 are civil in nature and 1,188 criminal cases.- PTI

The Upper House adjourned till February 10, 2025. 

Mohamed Abdulla, DMK MP from Tamil Nadu raises the issue of increasing the frequency of ‘Train No 16861 between Puducherry and Kanyakumari to a daily service. 

He says the train serves as a key transportation connecting pilgrimage with heritage sites across Tamil Nadu. He highlights the increasing occupancy of the passengers on the train andthe inconvenience caused by not increasing the frequency of the train. 

Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi said that he does not see that a new idea or dimension has been presented to the public to enhance quality of life. He says that the raising of the income tax exemption limit to Rs. 12 lakhs would only benefit 2% of the population.

He proposes univeralisation of free ration distribution for the next two years, increase of MNREGA wages to match inflation and increase work-days, and reduction of GST on essentials, among other suggestions.

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh highlights the need for legislative changes related to the exposure of children to pornography. 

He says that a committee has already framed a report and filed it in 2020 and urges the Minister to table the draft in the House. 

He says, “We need to take more steps in addition to the resolutions recommended in the draft report.” 

Dr. Radha Mohan Das Agrawal, BJP MP, praised the amendments introduced in the POCSO (Amendment) Bill 2024. 

Mr. Agrawal says, “This issue cannot be resolved by just enacting laws.” 

He says the number of cases reported in the country are just “tip of the iceberg”. 

NCP-SP MP Fauzia Khan highlights the need for necessary amendments related to the cases of POCSO. The amendment bids for compensation for rehabilitation, therapy and treatment of the victims supporting long-term impact. Ms. Khan also highlighted mistakes related to the Badlapur sexual assault case, in which the accused died in police custody. 

Vikranjit Singh Sahney introduces a Bill to provide for the prevention and control of hate speech on online platforms, to promote digital harmony and responsible online behaviour, to define offences related to online hate speech and provide for penalties thereto, and to create a regulatory framework for online platforms. 

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Pavan Rajenimbalkar urges government to simplify the process for PM AYUSH scheme as several times the patients are unavailable to avail treatment due to the hospital or disease not being listed under the scheme. He also highlights several railway projects which have not been allocated enough funds for its implementation

Bihar’s JD(U) Dinesh Chandra Yadav lauds the Centre for allocation to the state in the Union Budget. Listing the Makhana Board, Kosi river canal project, he urges the Centre to keep the state government in the loop while implementing these new projects. 

The House takes up Private Member’s Bills.

TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee condemns the Union Budget calling it a travesty similar to the ones occuring in Hindu epic Ramayana. “They have taken away from the poor and handed wealth to the Ravanas of India,” says the Diamond Harbour MP. 

Poking holes in the pre-promises made by the BJP, he adds, “They have not delivered on cash transfer to women, no legal guarantees on MSP, pushed farmers in further debt by increasing KISAN credit”. He condemns the delay in Census saying, “Any tax benefit to middle-class we won’t know because of no data”.

In Lok Sabha’s budget discussion, Samajwadi Party MP Shiv Pal Singh Patel condemns the mistreatment of Indians deported by the Indians. Likening it to the Galwan valley incursion by China, he says, “These allies (Trump and Xi) think less of us, inspite of our ‘Vishwaguru’ PM Modi’s lavish welcome to them”. He lauds China for its technological advancements to counter USA. 

He critiques PM Modi for focusing on religious developments like Maha Kumbh, Ramayan circuit and Kanwar Yatra, rather than boosting manufacturing, agriculture, AI and technology.

After a small protest by the Opposition, Mr. Gandhi continued his speech as Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman attends the session in Lok Sabha.

“Punjab has received no allocation in the Budget,” says Mr. Gandhi. Countering him, BJP MP Rao Rajender Singh says that the allocations to states have reverted the damage done by Congress in years.

A general discussion on Union Budget has begun in the Lok Sabha. Congress MP Dharamveer Gandhi kicks off the debate asserting, “States make India and not the Centre which makes states. This Budget has no proper allocation for states”.

Opposition question the absence of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman from the House, citing a convention. Chair insists that it is a convention and not rule.

Escalation of drug-related crimes in Kerala is deeply concerning, the MP says.

Union MoS (Health) Annpurna Devi informed the Lower House that under Mission POSHAN 2.0, distribution of nutrition, care and education to children under ages 14 in anganwadis is being done. The beneficiaries exceed over 10 crore under-age children. 

Lok Sabha is taking up questions on maternal and infant health care

With several MPs raising questions on availability of urea and DAP for farmers, Union Health Minister J P Nadda assured, “There has never been a shortage of urea. The day Centre decides of the prices, they are released to the states. Some people are trying to acquire it for profit and create an artificial shortage”.

Answering questions on maternal care in tribal areas, Centre insisted that India has managed to reduce maternal mortality rate and infant mortality rate by twice the global average 

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MP John Brittas demanded a discussion on the matter under Rule 267. Officiating Chair Ghanshyam Tiwari says that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has already made a statement on the topic.

With Speaker Om Birla in Chair, Question Hour begins

Members lay papers on the Table of the House.

1. Question Hour

2. Private Members’ Business