The second half of the Budget session of Parliament resumes today and is expected to begin on a stormy note. The Lok Sabha is set to take up an opposition-backed motion seeking the removal of Speaker Om Birla, while the escalating conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States is also likely to dominate proceedings.
The Budget session will continue until April 2.
What’s on agenda?
No-trust motion against Om Birla: A motion against Om 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 ruling National Democratic Alliance holds a comfortable majority, making it unlikely that the motion will succeed. PM Narendra Modi has publicly backed Birla, saying the Speaker has upheld the principles of the Constitution and parliamentary democracy.
Jaishankar to brief Parliament on West Asia war: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will brief Parliament on the rapidly intensifying crisis in West Asia, which began on February 28, according to the revised list of business for the day. The government is also closely monitoring the safety of Indian citizens across the Gulf as the war enters its tenth day. In recent days, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken with 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.
US-Iran-Israel War debate likely: The session is expected to be heated as Opposition parties raise the ongoing conflict in West Asia. The Congress has demanded a full-fledged short duration discussion on the situation. Party leader Jairam Ramesh said a suo motu statement from the government would not be sufficient. He said the conflict involves attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran and subsequent attacks by Iran on Gulf countries, along with the activities of the US Navy in the Indian Ocean. Jairam Ramesh also pointed out that nearly 10 million Indians work in the region and that their safety, livelihoods and security could be affected. He said India receives around 50–60 billion dollars in remittances from the region every year.
Opposition to question on rising oil prices: Opposition parties are also expected to question the government on India’s diplomatic position, rising oil prices and possible disruptions to global energy supplies. The conflict has also drawn in groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, widening the regional crisis.
SIR, Droupadi Murmu’s Bengal visit row: Apart from foreign policy issues, domestic political disputes are also likely to surface. Opposition parties plan to raise concerns over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal. The BJP may counter with allegations related to protocol during President Droupadi Murmu’s recent visit to the state.
Key bills on agenda: The second half of the Budget session will also focus on scrutiny of Demands for Grants for ministries for 2026–27 and the passage of the Finance Bill 2026, which contains the tax proposals announced in the Union Budget earlier this year.
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