Parliament Budget Session To Resume Tomorrow, Govt Vs Opposition Showdown Over Waqf, Trump Likely

Last Updated:March 09, 2025, 15:04 IST

Second part of the Parliament Budget Session will begin on Monday. The government eyes passage of the Waqf Amendment Bill while the Opposition may corner the government over a range of issues.

Parliament Budget Session to resume on Monday (PTI Image)

The second part of the Parliament Budget Session is all set to resume on Monday amid indications of stormy days inside the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

While the Opposition is planning to raise fresh Manipur violence and India’s handling of the Trump administration among other issues, the government will focus on getting Parliament’s nod for demands for grants, completion of the budgetary process and passage of the Waqf Amendment Bill. The government will also seek approval for the Manipur budget.

What’s On Govt’s Agenda?

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to move a statutory resolution seeking the approval of the Parliament for the proclamation of President’s Rule in the state, which has witnessed ethnic violence for months.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will also table the budget for Manipur on Monday. The state has been under the President’s rule since the resignation of Chief Minister N Biren Singh in February.

What’s On Opposition’s Agenda?

The Opposition is likely to corner the government on the issue of duplicate Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers.

The TMC had flagged the issue after which the Election Commission said that it would take corrective measures within three months.

The ECI had dismissed the TMC’s claim that voter lists were manipulated to allow voters to cast their votes in West – an allegation which was levelled by Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi in the House.

The poll body clarified that while some voters may have identical EPIC numbers, their demographic details, Assembly constituency, and polling booth information are distinct.

The TMC leaders will meet the ECI on Monday and has urged other INDIA bloc allies, including Congress, DMK, Shiv Sena UBT, to raise the issue in both Houses of the Parliament.

Govt Eyes Early Passage Of Waqf Amendment Bill

The government is prioritising the early passage of the Waqf Amendment Bill. Parliament Affairs Minister Kiren Rijijy said last week that the government eyes early passage of the Bill as it will solve several issues of the Muslim community.

A JPC submitted the report on the Bill in the Lok Sabha in the first part of the session amid protests by the Opposition.

Govt Vs Opposition Showdown Likely

Key issues such as the recent violence in Manipur, US President Donald Trump’s threat of reciprocal tariffs, and the political controversy over the delimitation of parliamentary constituencies are expected to resonate in Parliament.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh stated that the opposition INDIA bloc leaders would hold “extensive consultation" to jointly oppose the Waqf bill. He also reiterated the Congress’s concerns over alleged election irregularities, alleging that elections are “no longer free and fair" and are being “masterminded and orchestrated."

Jairam further emphasised that the Congress will raise Trump’s reciprocal-tariff threats during the second half of the Budget session and called for a bipartisan approach to address the issue.

The first part of the Budget session was held from January 31 to February 13, while the second part is set to begin on March 10 and continue until April 4.

News politics Parliament Budget Session To Resume Tomorrow, Govt Vs Opposition Showdown Over Waqf, Trump Likely