On the final day of this year’s budget session important bills, previously passed by the Lok Sabha, lapsed in the Upper House of the Indian Parliament. The lapsed bills included the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill and the Triple Talaq Bill
This year’s ten-day long budget session ended with the lapse of important bills like the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill and the Triple Talaq Bill in the Rajya Sabha. On the final day, the Upper House of the Indian Parliament was expected to consider eleven bills. It managed to pass the Appropriation Bills, the Finance Bill and the Interim Budget Bill (2019-20) without much deliberation. This was followed by chairman M Venkaiah Naidu adjourning the Rajya Sabha indefinitely.
In his customary remarks at the end of the session, Upper House Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said, “With a heavy heart I have to say that this short but important Budget Session of Rajya Sabha turned out to be another wasted opportunity. This only reinforces the dysfunctional pattern that has been evident over the last few years, which is a matter of serious concern as it poses a serious threat to parliamentary democracy”.
The last day of the session was commenced with the circulation of Comptroller and Auditor Group (CAG) report on the controversial Rafale deal in the Parliament. The report stated that the ruling party’s Rafale deal is 2.8 per cent cheaper than the one previously negotiated by the United Progressive Alliance government. This was followed by vehement protests led by the opposition that dismissed the report.
At a joint meeting of both Houses of the Parliament, UPA Chief Sonia Gandhi asserted, “There is an all-pervasive atmosphere of fear and strife across the country. Values, principles and provisions of the Constitution are under continued attack from the Modi government”.
The final budget issued by the Centre was approved in the Parliament on Wednesday. The budget will ensure an Income Tax rebate for those earning an annual income upto Rs 5,00,000. It further ensures a Rs 6000 cash relief for small farmers, and pension for unorganised sector labourers.
Concluding the Budget Session, ahead of the 2019 General Elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the achievements of the government. He said, “India has made a mark on digital map. The world looks at us differently because we are a strong majority government. When I travel, they don’t look at Modi or Sushma Swaraj, they look at a strong government.”