Some opposition MPs, including those from Akhilesh Yadav‘s Samajwadi Party, conducted a symbolic walk-out of the Lok Sabha Saturday Saturday morning as Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2025.
As Ms Sitharaman rose to present the budget, a little after 11 am, Samajwadi Party MPs shouted slogans and created a ruckus, demanding the House first discuss the tragic stampede at the Maha Kumbh in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj this week, in which 30 people died.
Mr Yadav has been severely critical of the Bharatiya Janata Party, which is in power in UP and at the centre, on this issue, demanding earlier that the state government hand over administration and management of the religious gathering to the Army.
This morning, shortly before Ms Sitharaman was to begin her budget reading, Mr Yadav told reporters that “there is a more important thing than a budget at this moment”.
“… people in Maha Kumbh are still looking and searching for their relatives… many people died but the government has failed to provide the numbers of deceased and those who are missing. Hindus have lost their lives… the government must wake up. I said earlier as well… call the Army there. This has been the first time saints have denied having Shahi (Amrit) Snan…”
#WATCH | Delhi | #BudgetSession | Samajwadi Party chief and the party’s MP Akhilesh Yadav says, “…There is a more important thing than budget at the moment – people in Maha Kumbh are still looking and searching for their relatives. The CM has been there many times, the Union… pic.twitter.com/wunzc8vbUv
— ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2025
Mr Yadav also targeted Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, stating, “Uttar Pradesh CM has ‘gone’ morally… the question now is when will he be gone politically?” He also accused the government of “hiding the number of people who died… as they don’t want to pay the compensation”.
The budget session of the Parliament began Friday with President Droupadi Murmu addressing a joint sitting of the two Houses. Ms Sitharaman then presented the Economic Survey 2024/25.
Ms Sitharaman today presented her eighth consecutive budget speech, a record, moving closer to the all-time record of 10 held by Morarji Desai.
READ | 16 Bills, Including Waqf Amendment Act, To Be Tabled In Budget Session
The first part of the Budget session will continue till February 13 and the two Houses will again meet on March 10 after recess with the session concluding on April 4.
With input from agencies
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