नवीनतम
Oppn walks out of RS over 'neglect' of states in budget
NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: The INDIA opposition bloc parties, led by the Congress, staged a walkout from the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, in protest against all states except two being "ignored" in the budget, an allegation termed "outrageous" by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharamanm, who said all the states never found a mention in any of the previous budgets, including those presented by the Congress.
After Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar rejected notices under Rule 267 that called for the suspension of the listed agenda to take up the issue, Leader of Opposition and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the Union Budget for the 2024-25 (April 2024 to March 2025) fiscal year provided funds and schemes for only two states -- Bihar and Andhra Pradesh.
All other states did not find any mention, he said, terming the budget a "kursi-bachao" document.
Sitharaman highlighted that major projects were also sanctioned in states not named in the budget, such as Maharashtra's Rs 76,000-crore Vadhavan port project. Opposition members, however, remained unconvinced, leading to a heated debate over resource allocation.
Dhankar highlighted that though he permitted the Leader of Opposition, Mallikarjun Kharge, to speak, it was leveraged as a strategic ploy by the Opposition. 'I gave the floor to the Leader of the Opposition in expectation that rules will be followed. It has been used as a ploy and a strategy,' he noted.
In response to the walkout, Dhankar expressed his displeasure and termed the actions as an 'unwholesome practice.' He called for introspection from party leaders, mentioning that Parliament should reflect Constitutional and democratic values. He also reiterated that Suspension of Business under Rule 267 should only be invoked in 'exceptional circumstances.'
