The second half of the Budget session will resume today with a stormy start, with Opposition MPs set to push a motion seeking the removal of Speaker Om Birla. Meanwhile, the government is expected to brief both the Houses on the escalating Middle East conflict, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar delivering a statement.
The second half of the Budget session of Parliament resumes today with a confrontational start as the Lok Sabha is set to take up an opposition-backed motion seeking the removal of Speaker Om Birla, while the escalating US-Israel-Iran war is also expected to dominate proceedings.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will brief Parliament on the rapidly intensifying crisis in the Middle East, which began on February 28, according to the revised list of business for the day. The Budget session will go on till April 2.
Meanwhile, a motion against Birla, signed by 118 Opposition MPs, accuses him of acting in a “blatantly partisan” manner while conducting proceedings in the House. Following the notice, Birla recused himself from presiding over the Lok Sabha and is expected to return to the chair only after the matter is decided.
Despite the political heat, the NDA holds a comfortable majority, making it unlikely that the motion will succeed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has publicly backed Birla, saying the Speaker has upheld the principles of the Constitution and parliamentary democracy.
The government is also closely monitoring the safety of Indian citizens across the Gulf as the war in the Middle East enters its tenth day. In recent days, PM Modi has spoken with several regional leaders, including Haitham bin Tarik, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Mohammed bin Salman, emphasising the safety and welfare of the large Indian diaspora.
Opposition parties are expected to question the government over India’s diplomatic position, rising oil prices and possible disruptions to global energy supplies. The war has also drawn in groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, widening the regional crisis.
Apart from foreign policy issues, domestic political disputes are also set to erupt. Opposition parties plan to raise concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, while the BJP may counter with allegations related to protocol during Droupadi Murmu’s recent visit to the state.