NEW DELHI, 9 March (H.S.): The second phase of the budget session is set to commence on March 10, during which political discussions in Parliament regarding the Waqf Bill are expected to intensify. The government may faces difficulties in passing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 during the second phase of the budget session.

More than 20 bills are currently awaiting consideration in the Rajya Sabha, while 9 bills are pending in the Lok Sabha. In addition to the Finance Bill, the government also encompasses the Wakf Board Amendment Bill.The government has several other significant bills on its agenda that it aims to have approved during the latter portion of the Parliament’s budget session.

The Finance Bill holds paramount significance as a crucial component of the Union Budget. It encompasses various tax and financial proposals, which become effective only upon receiving Parliament’s approval. Typically, the Finance Bill is deliberated upon and approved during the second phase of the Budget Session. The second phase of the Budget Session for 2025 is scheduled to commence on March 10 and conclude on April 4.

In the second phase of the budget session, it is anticipated that the opposition parties will address the heightened pressure from the United States regarding the elimination of tariffs. Additionally, certain political factions in South India, such as the DMK, may adopt a confrontational stance regarding the matter of delimitation based on population demographics and the Ministry of Education’s implementation of three languages.

In addition to the Wakf (Amendment) Bill, the government aims to make the passage of 35 other pending bills during this phase of the budget session. Among these are the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2022, and the Public Trust (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2022. Both bills were referred to a joint committee during the previous winter session and are presently under review by the panel.

Hindusthan Samachar / Meenakshi Bhattacharya