Amidst the ongoing protests against the 3 controversial farm bills, the Budget session for the FY21 is likely going to be one with a lot of upheavals.
The Budget session commenced with President Ram Nath Kovind’s addressing the joint session of Parliament.
President Kovind congratulated the Government on their effort in managing COVID-19 which saved several lives. He also expressed his grief over all the lives that had been lost during the last year including Former President Pranab Mukherjee and 6 MPs.
He said that he was glad to see the number of Coronavirus infection in the country going down consistently and that he felt that it was a matter of pride for the nation which is the largest producer of the Coronavirus vaccine currently.
In lieu of the controversy over the farm bills and the ongoing protests, he said that the Government had implemented the Swaminathan Report in relation to the agri-reforms and is trying to shoo away false rumours about the laws as they will benefit 100 million farmers.
He also added that the government is continually working to support small and marginal farmers and how under the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, nearly Rs 1.13 trillion had been transferred to the farmers’ account. Presenting a clarification about the bills, he said that the rights and facilities that were available before the formation of the three farm laws had not been cut short, in fact with these new agricultural reforms the govt has provided new facilities and rights to farmers.
Commenting on the Republic Day violence he said that it was very shameful how the National Flag and the Republic Day were insulted.
About 18 opposition parties including Indian National Congress, Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, RJD, Shiv Sena, DMK, and PDP did not attend the President’s address to show their solidarity with the ongoing farmers protest against the three agricultural laws.
Ghulam Nabi Azad, the opposition leader in Rajya Sabha, said that the 16 parties also wanted an independent probe of the Centre’s role in the violence that happened during the Republic Day tractor parade in the national capital.
Sitaram Yechury, CPM leader, said that the incident was a “classic BJP act” stating that, “That is a distraction, destruction, and disinformation. It is on the basis of this that they have orchestrated the violence. They now want to use this to distract people from the real issue.”
He also commented over the fact that lakhs of farmers were present and maintaining their agreement by staying on the routes that had been decided along with the Delhi Police and that it was one splinter group which caused the violence.
