Budget session braces for stormy showdown: Waqf, tariffs, voter rolls & more

Parliament’s Budget session resumes Monday, promising heated debates. The Opposition plans to confront the government on issues like delimitation, the three-language policy, US trade tariffs, and alleged voter roll manipulation.

A major clash is expected over the Waqf Amendment Bill, which the Union Cabinet has cleared. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju insists the bill will address key issues for the Muslim community. NDA allies JD(U) and TDP support the bill, while Congress and INDIA bloc parties plan to oppose it.

The government’s priority is passing budget-related bills, including the Appropriation and Finance Bills. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present Manipur’s Budget on Monday, following the state’s recent shift to President’s rule. Home Minister Amit Shah will seek Parliament’s approval for this proclamation. Meanwhile, fresh violence in Manipur will likely fuel Opposition criticism.

The Congress will hold a strategy meeting Monday to coordinate efforts with the INDIA bloc. Key topics include US trade tariffs and the recent deportation of Indian immigrants in chains. The party has demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi clarify whether Indian farmers and manufacturers are being compromised in tariff negotiations.

Delimitation is another flashpoint, particularly in the South. Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin has mobilized opposition to the population-based seat allocation, fearing southern states will lose Lok Sabha representation. He has called for an extension of the 1971 Census-based framework beyond 2026. On Friday, Stalin urged other Southern and Eastern leaders to unite against delimitation.

The DMK also plans to raise concerns over “Hindi imposition” through the National Education Policy’s three-language formula. This puts Congress in a tricky spot as it balances Southern opposition with efforts to regain ground in Hindi-speaking states like Bihar.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) is set to take on the BJP and Election Commission over duplicate voter ID numbers. Mamata Banerjee flagged this issue in a Kolkata party meeting, accusing the BJP of manipulating voter lists. The EC clarified that while some voters share identical EPIC numbers, their demographic details and polling booths differ.

During Monday’s Business Advisory Committee meeting, Congress will push for debates on grants for key ministries, including External Affairs, Defence, Railways, and Agriculture in the Lok Sabha. In the Rajya Sabha, they will demand discussions on Home, Education, Railways, and Health.

With both sides preparing for a showdown, the second leg of the Budget session promises intense political drama.