The first phase of the Budget Session of Parliament concluded on Friday after weeks of persistent disruptions, heated exchanges, and repeated adjournments, with proceedings overshadowed by political controversies surrounding the proposed India–US interim trade deal and the unpublished memoir of former Army Chief M. M. Naravane. The House will now reconvene on March 9 following a three-week recess during which parliamentary standing committees will review budgetary allocations for various central ministries under the Union Budget.
Earlier in the day, proceedings were briefly adjourned for an hour after Opposition members staged protests demanding the resignation of Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. The Opposition also voiced strong objections to the India–US interim trade agreement, alleging a lack of transparency and consultation.
The session had commenced on January 28 with President Droupadi Murmu addressing a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament, setting the legislative agenda for the year. However, the proceedings soon turned contentious.
Tensions escalated in the Lok Sabha on February 2 when the Chair disallowed Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi from quoting excerpts from Naravane’s memoir related to the 2020 India–China conflict. The decision triggered strong protests, leading to dramatic scenes inside the House.
Members of the Opposition resorted to sloganeering and demonstrations, resulting in multiple adjournments. The disorder culminated in disciplinary action, with seven Congress members and one CPI(M) member suspended for the remainder of the session for unruly conduct, including climbing onto officials’ tables and throwing torn papers towards the Chair.
Amid fears of further disruptions, Speaker Om Birla reportedly requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to attend the Lok Sabha during his scheduled reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address, in an effort to maintain order.
With legislative business repeatedly stalled, much of the session’s focus shifted from policymaking to political confrontation. The upcoming recess will allow committees to scrutinize ministry-wise budget proposals, after which Parliament is expected to resume discussions with renewed focus on financial and legislative matters.
