Government Convenes All-Party Meeting Ahead of Budget Session
The Indian government has called an all-party meeting on July 21st, 2023, ahead of the upcoming Budget Session of Parliament. The meeting, convened by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, aims to understand the issues that various political parties wish to raise during the session.
The Monsoon Session will commence on July 22nd and continue until August 12th, with a total of 19 sittings scheduled. This session holds particular significance as it is expected to be the first with Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in attendance.
However, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has announced that they will not be attending the meeting. July 21st is observed as Martyrs Day in memory of 13 Congress supporters who were tragically killed in a Kolkata Police firing incident in 1993. This incident occurred during a march to the state secretariat under the CPI(M)-led Left Front government in West Bengal.
The first day of the session will see Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman present the Union Budget. She will also table the Economic Survey in Parliament.
The government is expected to present six bills during the session, including one to replace the 90-year-old Aircraft Act. Additionally, they will seek Parliament's approval for the budget of Jammu and Kashmir, which is currently under central rule.
Meanwhile, former Odisha chief minister and BJP leader Naveen Patnaik has instructed his party MPs to raise the demand for special category status for Odisha during the session.