Parliament Budget Session 2025 LIVE: Lok Sabha Adjourned Till 2 PM Amid Protests By Samajwadi, TMC MPs

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday said the Modi government is taking several steps to increase farm income and has insulated farmers from high fertiliser prices in the international markets.

“Our vision is to increase farm income and we will leave no stone unturned to achieve that vision. Farmer welfare is Modi government’s guarantee,” Chouhan said during the Question Hour in the Lok Sabha.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday questioned the support of the Waqf Amendment Bill from political leaders like Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar, accusing them of backing the bill for political gain. “If Chandrababu Naidu, Nitish Kumar, Chirag Paswan and Jayant Chaudhary will praise it then they are doing so for their political reasons… They are supporting it but what answer will they give to the public after 5 years?,” he asked.

Calling the bill ‘unconstitutional’, Owaisi said it violates multiple articles of the Constitution. “This bill is unconstitutional. This bill is a violation of Article 14, Articles 25, 26 and 29,” he added.

CPI MP P Sandosh Kumar on Tuesday slammed the Waqf Amendment Bill, stating that the party does not view it through a Hindu-Muslim lens.

Kumar raised concerns about certain provisions in the bill that could undermine the country’s “secular principles” and confirmed that the CPI will oppose it.

Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday strongly opposed the Waqf Amendment Bill, accusing the BJP of attempting to “interfere in everything” and seeking control over all matters.

“We are against the Waqf Board Bill because the BJP wants to interfere in everything. They want control everywhere,” Yadav stated.

Congress MP Pramod Tiwari on Tuesday reiterated that the party’s position on the Waqf Amendment Bill has been “very clear” from the beginning, and they will continue to oppose it.

“When the JPC was formed, we had presented all our objections but they were not accepted there. When this (Waqf Amendment Bill) comes to the House, we will oppose it in the same way as we did in the JPC,” Tiwari stated.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday instructed BJP whips to ensure maximum participation during discussion on the Waqf Bill. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, is likely to be tabled in the Lok Sabha tomorrow (April 2).

Sources told News18 that during the meeting, Rijiju urged members invited to speak to focus on the key points of the bill and avoid making aggressive or provocative remarks. BJP whips, who lead groups of MPs, are expected to report to BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal.

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) national spokesperson Prem Kumar Jain on Tuesday said that the party will support the Waqf Amendment Bill, stating they would comment further after the bill is officially tabled.

“Our party will support it. Chandrababu Naidu has already mentioned that we will work in interests of the Muslim community,” Jain Stated.

Congress MP and JPC member Imran Masood on Tuesday accused the central government of dominating the debate on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, claiming that opposition voices are being ignored and silenced.

“There is only one-way traffic. Whatever the government wants to speak, they will speak; you keep listening,” Masood stated.

The Congress leader also called the bill “unconstitutional”, claiming it “overlaps many sections of the Constitution.”

Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) chairman on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, Jagdambika Pal, on Tuesday defended the central government’s intentions, stating that the aim is to bring a “transparent bill” despite strong opposition from various political parties.

“People are being misled by telling lies. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju is continuously saying that we are ready to discuss the bill and he is appealing to the opposition that they should also come to the House and discuss it,” Pal stated.