The Narendra Modi government will begin its first budget session in the Parliament today and here's how the session is likely to unfold over the 28 sittings that will be spread over 168 hours, as the Opposition will look to take on Modi.
Flashpoints -
Price hike – The recent rise in prices of several essentials such as food and fuel will be the centerpiece during the Budget session, with Opposition parties likely to point fingers at the newly-elected government for it. The Opposition parties have already set down their agenda to discuss several such issues to Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on 5 July, according to NDTV.
Leader of Opposition Tussle – With the Congress vying for the Leader of Opposition post in the Lok Sabha and the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government in no mood to relent, the LoP issue is expected to disrupt the Budget Session. While the Congress party is citing its majority in the Opposition as a valid reason to get the post, the BJP has been backing on precedents set by the former party itself in not appointing a Leader of Opposition.
Railway fare hike – With the Modi government to bring out its maiden Rail Budget on Tuesday, the recent decision to hike rail fares by 14.2 percent for passengers is likely to turn into a heated issue in the Parliament, with several Opposition parties already having protestsed against the hike announced last month.
Gopal Subramanium judge appointment – The NDA government had controversially rejected the recommendation by the Supreme Court's collegium to appoint former solicitor general Gopal Subramanian, who was the amicus curiae in the Sohrabuddin fake encounter case that had controversially embroiled the erstwhile Narendra Modi Gujarat government, as a judge of the apex court. The decision was followed by huge drama, with the lawyer himself withdrawing his name. the issue is likely to be taken up by the Opposition, mainly because it is linked with BJP leader Amit Shah's role in the encounter case.
Nihalchand rape controversy – With the Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Nihalchand Meghwal embroiled in a rape case wherein he has been accused by a Rajasthani woman of assaulting her, the BJP government had already faced pressure by the Opposition to fire him, and the pressure is expected to build up even more in the coming days.
The government is set to announce Bills –
The NDA government is likely to announce bills to replace the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India or TRAI (Amendment) Ordinance, 2014 as well as the Ordinance related to the Polavaram project under Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2014.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu also told the media that the Commerce Ministry will bring out a bill on the National Institute of Design.
