The Opposition on Wednesday staged a protest inside and outside the Parliament over alleged discrimination against non-National Democratic Alliance (NDA) states in the Union Budget 2024, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday.
Members of the INDIA bloc first protested outside the Makar Dwar of the Parliament building. Then, during Question Hour in the Lok Sabha, they raised slogans about alleged injustice to Opposition-ruled states.
Outside, leaders of the Congress, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, along with those of the Trinamool Congress, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Samajwadi Party (SP), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Left, stood with placards that read “INDIA rejects NDA budget”, “NDA betrays INDIA in Budget” and “Treat All States Equally”, among others.
The MPs shouted slogans such as “Modi government shame, shame” as leaders of various parties argued that the Budget had catered only to states ruled by the BJP and its allies.
Sources said Congress chief ministers will also boycott the NITI Aayog meeting on July 27, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair.
Inside the House, the Opposition MPs briefly disrupted the Lok Sabha over the issue, demanding time from the Speaker to speak on it. However, this was not allowed.
“This Budget is anti-people, no one has got justice. They have talked about a special package, but special status has not been given. This is a deceptive budget and injustice to the people,” Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge told the media.
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav argued that the government had given a “support price” to its allies rather than the farmers. He also said that Uttar Pradesh had been given nothing because “people of Lucknow have angered the people of Delhi”. Yadav was referring to the setback the BJP suffered in Lok Sabha elections 2024 as its tally came down to 33 from 62.
The Union Budget allocated significant amounts to Bihar and Andhra Pradesh for various developmental projects. The Narendra Modi government is dependent upon the NDA allies Janata Dal (United), which rules Bihar in alliance with the BJP, and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), which has come back to power in Andhra Pradesh.
As the House began proceedings and Opposition MPs started shouting slogans, Speaker OM Birla took exception to INDIA bloc MPs allegedly blocking the Makar Dwar used by MPs to enter the House.
“While protesting in Parliament, you must remember that no member faces inconvenience in reaching the House. This is not right. Many members have written to me,” Speaker Om Birla said.
At this moment, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju rose to claim that several members had also complained to him about this. “What Opposition MPs have done during the Question Hour is condemnable. In the all-party meeting, leaders of all political parties said the House must run smoothly and by rules. But after coming to the House, disrupting the Question Hour is not right,” he said.
The Opposition in Rajya Sabha walked out a few minutes after the session began. Kharge alleged that the Budget was prepared to make only a “few people happy” and to “save the chair”. He said the plates of all states remained empty except for two, referring to Bihar and Andhra Pradesh.
After the Opposition walkout, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar criticised its conduct saying that if disruption was weaponised as a political strategy, then democracy would be seriously threatened.
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