India bloc M.Ps protest outside Parliament Complex ( Photo Courtesy: ANI )
New Delhi In a dramatic turn of events today, Opposition MPs from the INDIA bloc staged a walkout in both Houses of Parliament, protesting what they allege to be discrimination against Opposition-ruled states in the Union Budget. The protest, led by Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, accused the government of undermining India’s federal structure.
Rahul Gandhi, along with prominent leaders including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, gathered at the Parliament premises to voice their discontent. Gandhi described the Budget as an “assault on the sanctity of India’s federal structure,” emphasizing the neglect and discrimination faced by states outside the ruling party’s favor.
The tension escalated in the Lok Sabha as Opposition members attempted to raise concerns over budgetary allocations, leading to a walkout after their demands were dismissed. Speaker Om Birla and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju criticized the disruption, highlighting difficulties faced by MPs entering the Parliament due to the protests.
Meanwhile, in the Rajya Sabha, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar rejected Opposition calls to suspend the agenda, prompting Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge to lead the INDIA bloc out of the House in protest. Kharge criticized the Budget for allegedly favoring only two states, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, terming it a “kursi-bachao” document designed to protect the ruling party’s interests.
Responding to the allegations, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman dismissed the claims of discrimination as “outrageous,” stating that previous Budgets, including those presented by the Congress, did not explicitly name all states yet continued to benefit them through government schemes and projects. Sitharaman cited examples of substantial allocations made to states despite not being explicitly mentioned in Budget speeches.
The BJP, in turn, criticized the Opposition’s stance as reflective of political frustration and a negative attitude towards states needing special developmental assistance. The ongoing confrontation underscores deep-seated political divisions over fiscal policies and resource allocation strategies across India.
