Budget Session Concludes as Lok Sabha Adjourns Sine Die

New Delhi, Apr 4: The Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die on Friday, marking the conclusion of the Budget Session, which commenced on January 31. The session, which spanned over two months, saw intense debates, legislative business, and confrontations between the government and the opposition.

When the House reconvened at noon following an adjournment over remarks by Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla delivered his valedictory address, highlighting the legislative achievements of the session before formally adjourning the House indefinitely. He informed the members that the session witnessed the passage of 16 bills, with overall House productivity exceeding 118 percent. However, his remarks were met with strong protests from the opposition benches, particularly over his comments regarding Gandhi’s statement on the Waqf Amendment Bill. The Congress leader had accused the government of bulldozing the bill without discussion, a claim Birla rejected as unfortunate and against the dignity of the House.

Amid political tensions, the session allowed the government to complete crucial financial exercises, including securing parliamentary approval for budgetary allocations to various ministries and passing the Finance Bill. Additionally, the budget for Manipur, which remains under central rule, was also cleared during the proceedings.

One of the most contentious legislative moments came with the passage of the Waqf Amendment Bill, which led to a heated standoff between the ruling party and the opposition. Despite strong resistance, the bill was passed in both Houses as Parliament extended its working hours to clear pending legislative business.