NewsGate Press Network

Both the Houses of Parliament had their last working day on Thursday the 13th of February 2025 in the on-going Budget Session while going-in for a recess time.

The day was marked witnessing acrimonious scenes both in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha where the Opposition created a ruckus staging a walkout alleging that dissent notes have not been included in the report of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf Amendment Bill, that was tabled.

As soon as the JPC Chairman Jagdambika Pal tabled the panel’s report on the table of the house, the Opposition members created a ruckus.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, “Some Opposition members have raised concern that their views have not been included completely in the report. I want to say on behalf of my party that taking into consideration the concerns of the Opposition, I request you to add whatever disputes there are, as per the appropriate form of parliamentary functioning. My party has no objection to this”.

On this, Speaker Om Birla said that some members of the Opposition had met him and expressed their objections and their disagreements have been placed in the annexure of the report.

The Opposition was not satisfied with this and continued creating ruckus. Later they walked out of the house.

Overall the Lok Sabha recorded 112 percent of productivity in the first phase of the Budget session despite disruption from the opposition members on various issues, Speaker Om Birla said.

In a statement, Birla said, ‘The general discussion on the budget was lasted for 16 hours and 13 minutes in which 170 members participated. With your support, our productivity in this session was about 112 percent”.

Praising members of the house, he said, today is the last day of the first phase of the Budget Session. ‘I am happy that we discussed in a good atmosphere during the session. I got your full support.”

“There was a meaningful discussion of 17 hours and 23 minutes on the motion of thanks to President’s address. In this, 173 Hon’ble Members sat till late night and expressed their views” Birla further added.

The Speaker expressed hope that the house will continue to get the support of the members in the same way in future as well.

Meanwhile, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the new Income Tax bill in the house.

The new Income Tax Bill will replace the six-decade old Income Tax Act and will likely come into effect from April 1, 2026.