Budget Session LIVE: Lok Sabha adjourned sine die as Budget session concludes

The curtains came down on Saturday on the 17th Lok Sabha, which was witness to landmark moments such as the abrogation of Article 370, the granting of 33 per cent reservation to women in Parliament and legislative assemblies, and the inauguration of the new Parliament building.

It also saw the suspension of 100 members in a span of four days for unruly conduct and a major security breach on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack.

The December 13 incident, in which two intruders jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery and set-off smoke canisters while the House was in session, led to a review and stepping up of security measures in the Parliament complex.

The Budget session of Parliament, the last before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, started on January 31 and ended on Saturday with a day-long discussion on the construction and consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die on Saturday, marking the conclusion of the Budget session of Parliament.

The Budget session, the last before the Lok Sabha elections due in April-May, began on January 31.

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said in the “short but important session”, the House sat for nine days dealing with 116 issues of public importance alongside answering 90 starred and 960 unstarred questions of parliamentarians.

Referring to the resolution passed on Saturday about the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Temple, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that it will give constitutional powers to the future generations of the country to take pride in its heritage.

He said that the resolution comprises ‘Samvedna’, ‘Sankalp’ and ‘Sahanubhuti’ along with the mantra of ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’.

The Prime Minister said “Parliament will continue to inspire its members to leave behind a legacy for future generations and work to fulfill the dreams and aspirations of future generations with the collective effort of all its Members”.

The Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die on Saturday.

The Budget session was the last session of the 17th Lok Sabha before parliamentary elections are announced.

Speaker Om Birla said the 17 Lok Sabha passed 222 bills in the last five years.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the five years of the 17th Lok Sabha were a period of reform, perform and transform with the country moving towards “big changes” at a fast pace.

In his address in the Lok Sabha on the last day of the Budget session, Modi said that during the last five years, game-changing reforms were made in which a strong foundation of a 21st century India can be seen.

“The country has moved towards big changes at a fast pace and all members of the House made an important contribution. Such works were completed for which people had waited for centuries,” the prime minister said in the final session before the Lok Sabha polls.

For generations, people had dreamt of one Constitution but this House made that possible by removing Article 370, he said and noted that several important decisions were taken during the 17th Lok Sabha.

“Everyone used to discuss that there should be a new building of the Parliament. But no decision used to be taken. It was your (Lok Sabha Speaker) leadership that decided this, too matters forward, held meetings with the government and as a result, the country received this new Parliament building.”

“These five years were about reform, perform and transform in the country. It is very rare that both reform and perform take place and we can see transformation right in front of our eyes…The country is experiencing this through the 17th Lok Sabha and I firmly believe that the country will continue to bless the 17th Lok Sabha.”

‘These five years were about reform, perform and transform in the country’, says PM Modi speaking about previous 5 years of his governance.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that no one can read the history of the country by ignoring the Ram Mandir movement and the dream of the grand temple at Ayodhya was fulfilled during the Modi government.

Participating in Lok Sabha on discussion on ‘Construction of historic Shri Ram Temple and Pran Pratishtha of Shri Ramlala’, Amit Shah said those who imagine a country without Lord Ram do not know the country well and they represent the days of colonialism.

“China tried to do what it did in 1962; our leadership displayed resolve and not an inch of India’s land was lost,” Amit Shah said speaking about LAC in Lok Sabha.

Aam Aadmi Party will announce candidates for all 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab and 1 in Chandigarh in 10-15 days, party supremo Arvind Kejriwal said today.

They (Cong) feared people who could overshadow ‘first family’, says FM, cites names of B R Ambedkar, Syama Prasad Mookerjee, Karpoori Thakur

Unemployment rate for graduates declined from 17.3 pc in 2017 to 13.4 pc in 2023, says Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in RS

“Today, when we are bringing the White Paper, it is because we have brought the economy to a certain level and that level gives us the confidence that we are able to now say that within the next few years, and that is why the PM keeps saying, “In my third term surely the economy will reach third rank.” This is not without reason,” says Nirmala Sitharaman.

“No one can read the history of this country by ignoring the Ram Mandir movement. Since 1528, every generation has seen this movement in some form or the other. This matter remained stuck for a long time. This dream had to be fulfilled during the time of the Modi government…”

“I want to ask if Modi Govt is the government of a particular community, religion or the government of the entire country? Does GoI have a religion? I believe that this country does not have a religion. Through 22nd January, does this govt want to give a message that one religion triumphed over the other? What message do you give to the 17 crore Muslims in the country?…Am I a spokesperson of Babar, Jinnah or Aurangzeb?…I respect Lord Ram but I hate Nathuram Godse because he killed the person whose last words were ‘Hey Ram’…”, Asaduddin Owaisi said.

“January 22 is beginning of journey of great India… Those who imagine a country without lord Ram do not know our country well and they represent the days of colonialism”, Amit Shah said in Lok Sabha during a discussion on Ram temple construction

On Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s ‘Super PM’ jibe on Congress MP Sonia Gandhi, Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge says, “… Its been 10 years since this government was formed and they still depend on Pt. Nehru, Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge to be in news. That means they have not achieved anything in the last 10 years. Nirmala Sitharam has been elected from Karnataka, and she should produce a white paper on what she has done for Karnataka. She should talk about the 14th and 15th financial injustice that is being meted out to Karnataka. She should tell why MNREGA workers are not being paid wages… Under her watchful eye, the Indian economy has hit the doldrums. She is perhaps India’s most incompetent Finance Minister ever.”

Senior BJP leader Satyapal Singh on Saturday quoted from Jawaharlal Nehru’s “tryst with destiny” speech, saying the country’s long-suppressed soul found utterance on January 22, when a grand Ram temple was consecrated at Ayodhya.

Lord Ram is the heart, soul, and spirit of all his devotees. After a struggle of 500 years, the Ram temple has been made a reality… It sure is the court which allowed the construction of Ram temple, but it is also the efforts and struggles of PM Narendra Modi: Mahesh Sharma, BJP Lok Sabha MP

The history of Ram Mandir, and the fulfilment of wishes of millions of Ram devotees and their efforts to get the Ram Temple built, will be discussed in the house. It will be a balanced discussion within the limits of the constitution: Laxmikant Bajpai, BJP chief whip in Rajya Sabha

Don’t use this language. I will not tolerate insult to Chaudhary Charan Singh. He stands for impeccable public life, unimpeachable integrity, and commitment to farmers…I have seen with my eyes, ruckus, chaos, condemnation, shouting and sloganeering: Jagdeep Dhankhar

Rajya Sabha chair Jagdeep Dhankhar, Vice President of India, speaks to Congress chief and Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, accusing the party of ‘insulting’ ex-PM and new Bharat Ratna awardee, Chaudhary Charan Singh.

You (Congress) virtually insulted Chaudhary Charan Singh, you insulted his legacy. You had no time for Bharat Ratna Chaudhary Charan Singh. You are hurting every farmer in the country by creating such an environment inside the House on the issue of Chaudhary Charan Singh. Our heads should go in shame: Jagdeep Dhankhar

Where there is Ram, there is religion…those who destroy Dharma, are killed and those who protect Dharma, are protected. Congress is in this situation in this country today because they rejected Lord Ram at that time: BJP MP Satyapal Singh in Lok Sabha

The decision taken to award Chaudhary Charan Singh with Bharat Ratna is a big decision. Yesterday, people celebrated Diwali after the announcement; the farmers distributed sweets. This only shows that the decision was not only limited to his family members but is a decision to strengthen the farmers: RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary, grandson of ex-PM Chaudhary Charan Singh, says in Rajya Sabha.

In its final sitting before the Lok Sabha elections, the Lower House begins discussion on the Ayodhya Ram Temple.

Satyapal Singh, BJP MP from Baghpat, initiates the debate.

Proceedings have started in Parliament on the last day of the budget session. Also, this is Parliament’s final sitting before the April-May Lok Sabha polls, when PM Modi and the BJP seek a third straight term in power.

The discussion on Ram Temple is ‘very important’ for the country, says Satyapal Singh, BJP MP and Union minister.

This is an important discussion. The people should know about this. There are some people who also proposed the construction of toilets at the place of Ram Temple…this is not just a temple, but the construction of Ram Temple at the birthplace of Lord Ram is a symbol of the unity of the nation. The public should know about this, it is very important: Pratap Sarangi, BJP MP

In Rajya Sabha, a short-duration discussion will be held on the NDA government’s ‘White Paper’ against the previous UPA government. BJP MPs will raise the discussion on the paper’s impact on the lives of the people of the country.

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the paper earlier this week to expose the UPA’s ‘mishandling’ of the economy.

Ahead of the day’s sitting, Congress issues a three-line whip to its Lok Sabha MPs. Also, parliamentary leaders of the party-led INDIA bloc of opposition parties to meet at the Rajya Sabha LoP office in Parliament.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge is Rajya Sabha’s Leader of Opposition (LoP) and chairperson of the INDIA bloc.

Saturday will witness the final sitting of Parliament before the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, due in April-May. This will also bring to an end the ongoing budget session, which opened, as usual, on January 31, and was scheduled to end on February 9. It was, however, extended by a day.