Budget Session 2023 Wrap: No End To Empasse Over JPC, Rahul Gandhi. Still, Not The Least Functioning In 10 Years

The 2023 Budget Session of Parliament was a tumultuous one, marked by disruptions and protests by both the opposition and the treasury benches. Have a look at the productivity hours of Parliament over the last 10 years.

Opposition MPs, wearing black over the disqualification of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha, protest in the well of the House during Budget Session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Wednesday, April 5, 2023.

Source : PTI

The 2023 Budget Session of Parliament, which began on January 31 and had 27 planned sittings, adjourned sine die today, April 6. The session was marred by disruptions and protests by the opposition and the treasury benches. The session had a recess from February 14 to March 13, but upon resumption, a ruckus erupted in Parliament over a host of issues.

The opposition had demanded a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the Adani issue leading to House disruptions. The opposition, led by Congress, charged the BJP-led government with "inaction" in light of the allegations made in Hindenburg's report on the business practices of the Adani Group.

The treasury benches, on their part, were demanding an apology from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Parliament for his remarks made in London, where he had said that "democracy was under attack".

However, Gandhi was disqualified from the house during the session after he was convicted by a court in Gujarat in a criminal defamation case.

Budget Session 2023: 34% Productivity In LS, 24.4% In RS As Second Leg Concludes On Stormy Note

Parliament Functioning Hours Budget Session 2023

Overall, the Budget Session of Parliament was a tumultuous one, marked by disruptions and protests by both the opposition and the treasury benches. However, in terms of functioning hours, Budget Session 2023 was not the least productive session in the last 10 years.

The 2018 Budget Session was the least productive, in terms of hours, in the last decade. It was marred by issues like the Nirav Modi-Punjab National Bank scam and an attempt of a no-confidence motion against the PM Modi-led NDA govt. The 2023 Budget Session of parliament is the second least productive in the last 10 years with 45.9 hours of functioning in the Lok Sabha and 32.3 hours in the Rajya Sabha. 

Functioning Of Parliament In Hours 

Budget Session	Lok Sabha (Hours)	Rajya Sabha (Hours)
2023	45.9	32.3
2022	177	127.6
2021	131.8	104.4
2020	111.2	93.8
2019	280.7	195.5
2018	34.1	45.3
2017	178.1	163.3
2016	198.2	156.3
2015	246	181.2
2014	167.2	142.8

Source: PRS Legislative Research

Budget Session 2023 In Numbers: Zero Productivity In Rajya Sabha On Legislative Business, Only 1.1% In Lower House — Details

First Half Of Budget Session

After the Union Budget was presented on February 1, Lok Sabha devoted a total of 14 hours and 45 minutes to discussing it. In Rajya Sabha, the general discussion on the Union Budget was cut short, lasting only two hours and 39 minutes over two days on February 9 and 10, despite being scheduled to take place from February 8 to February 10.

Similarly, The Motion of Thanks on the President's address, which was slated to run for four days from February 6 to February 9 in the Upper House of Parliament, only took place on February 7, 8, and 9.    

'He Said, She Said'

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday expressed anguish at Parliament not having a debate on the Union Budget as proceedings in both Houses saw a washout and accused the Opposition of resorting to diversionary tactics to distract people's attention from the "success story" of the Indian economy.

"I feel very sad as a debate on the budget would have given me a chance to explain its various positives," FM Sitharaman told reporters. The Modi government, she asserted, has been presenting "honest and transparent" budgets year after year, she said.

Noting the buoyant direct and indirect revenue collections and inflation hovering around the upper tolerance limit amid a sluggish global economy, Sitharaman said India remains the fastest-growing major economy globally.

"Indian economy is a success story," she said citing figures.

Congress general secretary organisation K C Venugopal on Wednesday said the 2023 Budget Session was washed out because of the Centre's "attitude". 

"The entire second part of the budget session was washed out only because of the attitude of the government. For the first time treasury benches stalled proceedings and later they refused to discuss the Adani issue and not even listen to why the Opposition was demanding," he alleged.