At the all party meeting preceding the Budget session of Parliament, the Opposition parties demanded a debate on two issues — the revelations made by US-based short seller Hindenburg Research on alleged stock manipulation and tax evasion by the Gautam Adani group and attack on the federal structure by governors in Opposition ruled States.
The Budget Session of the Parliament will begin on January 31, 2023 with a joint session addressed by President Droupadi Murmu.
Aam Aadmi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Bharat Rashtra Samithi, Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Communist Party of India demanded a reply from the government considering the high exposure of State Bank of India and Life Insurance Company of India have to the Adani group. No representative of the Congress was present at the meeting since they were preoccupied with culmination event of the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Srinagar. A total of 37 leaders from 27 political parties were present at the meeting.
Not giving a conclusive assurance on whether a debate on Hindenburg report will be held, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi, speaking to the reporters said, “We have no objection to discuss any issue under the rules and procedures as permitted by the chair.” He also sought the opposition’s cooperation in running the house smoothly.
RJD MP Manoj K Jha pointed out that the Adani group’s clarification for Hindenburg report is especially problematic. “Gautam Adani in his defence said that revelations made by Hindenburg is an attack on India. When did Adani become synonym for India? He is trying to cover his wrong doings using the Indian flag. Let the investigations happen. He has no right to defend himself using the country as his shield. India is much larger than individuals and a few industrialists,” Mr. Jha said.
AAP leader Sanjay Singh said that a debate on the issue is essential to settle the growing worry of several crore LIC investors. Mr. Singh said, “It is a matter of worry for several crore people of the country who have invested their hard earned money in LIC and SBI. And today their money is in danger. Where is CBI, ED, SEBI and income tax department. You have given ₹2.5 lakh crore loan to one person, the same person is evading taxes using shell companies in tax haven countries to fraudulently increase the evaluation of his firm. How can the government remain mum?”
Trinamool Congress is the only leading opposition party not to demand a debate on Hindenburg report, though, party’s Parliamentary leader Sudip Bandhopadhyay said, that the party will have no objection if the issue is debated. Instead, the TMC emphasised the need to debate dismantling of the cooperative federalism. “We categorically stated that the cooperative federalism is under threat, the government of India has imposed an economic blackade in West Bengal by stalling release of funds for several centrally sponsored schemes like the MNREGA. In this budget session, we hope that this situation is corrected,”Mr. Bandhopadhyay said.
Several other opposition parties echoed similar views — DMK, AAP and BRS also flagged this issue.
“Cooperative federalism is a key to democracy and is a very important tool. Why should a government have to go to court to get its work done because the governor is constantly interfering in the matter? That, we have very strongly raised against, BRS leader K Keshava Rao
Several opposition parties also expressed dismay at the government’s decision to ban the BBC documentary.
During the meeting YSR Congress- joined the ranks of JD(U) and RJD demanding the necessity of having a country wide caste census. YSR Congress Parliamentary Party leader Vijaysai Reddy argued that to frame welfare policies it is necessary to know the economic status of the backward castes who are “lagging behind” on social development indicators. He added that the backward castes are over 50 per cent of the total population and the census will help find their economic status.
Parties including the TRS, TMC and the BJD also supported the demand. The Budget Session will begin from January 31 with President Droupadi Murmu’s address to the joint sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The session will have 27 sittings and will continue till April 6 with a month-long recess to examine the budget papers. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget on February 1. The first part of the Budget Session will conclude on February 14. Parliament will reconvene on March 12 for the second part of the Budget Session.
