Budget Session: Finance Minister blames UPA for price rise; Opposition stages walkout

Zee Media Bureau/Ritesh K Srivastava

New Delhi: The 42-day-long Budget Session of Parliament begins from Monday and will have 28 sittings. During this period, Railway Minister Sadanand Gowda and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will present the Narendra Modi-led NDA Government`s first Railway and General Budgets on July 8 and July 10 respectively. The Economic Survey will be released on July 9. The session will end on August 14. Here are the live updates -

The reasons given by the govt for rail fare hike are not acceptable so TMC decided to walk out after taking part in discussion, Derek O`Brien of the TMC says.

Congress, BSP, CPI-M stage walkout in Rajya Sabha expressing dissatisfaction with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley`s reply on price rise.

There is sufficient supply of onion and potato, there is no need for panic, assures Finance Minister.

Attacking the erstwhile UPA govt, Jaitley says prices of essential commodities rose during the Congress regime, NDA govt is trying to control them.

It is not possible to fill gaps which Congress left in 5 weeks, Arun Jaitley in Rajya Sabha.

Suggestions of fare rise in railways came to the government due to losses incurred in February, says Arun Jaitley.

Finance Minister says, the UPA didn`t take tough decisions when it needed to. My UPA friends must understand what situation they left the Railways in. The Railways has been left in tatters by the UPA Govt and the Congress now wants to pass on blame.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley replies in Rajya Sabha.

Lok Sabha adjourned for the day after uproar over price rise.

Commotion in Lok Sabha as Opposition MPs disrupt proceedings, shout anti-government slogans.

Lok Sabha proceedings begin after being adjourned till 2 pm. Opposition members raise slogans in the house against PM Narendra Modi.

Is price rice a relay race that Congress passed to BJP? It`s not a question of blame game. The government got the mandate on the promises it made, says Yechury.

Sitaram Yechury of CPI-M says, “I`m happy that after a long time, a government has agreed to hold a discussion on an important issue in Parliament.”

The NDA government came to power on promise of tackling inflation. They cannot be allowed to get away with rising prices. We will see if Rail Budget should be allowed without protest,” says Congress leader Veerappa Moily in Rajya Sabha.

Naqvi continues in Rajya Sabha by saying, “I wish these leaders were equally concerned about price rise when they ruled the country.”

In Rajya Sabha, BJP`s Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi says, “From 2004 to 2014, from Parliament to streets, there were protests on price rise but there were no discussions. I want to congratulate the government on allowing a discussion on price rise.”

With pandemonium continuing, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourns Lok Sabha till 2 pm after Opposition creates ruckus over rejection of notices of adjournment motions on price rise, rail fare hike.

Congress workers stage protest outside Parliament and at Jantar Mantar over price rise.

JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav slams Narendra Modi government in Rajya Sabha over price rise, rail fare hike.

Proceedings in the Lok Sabha resume, JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav speaks in the Rajya Sabha on price rise.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) opposes hike in rail fare. Its MP in Rajya Sabha Derek O Brian says the hike in rail fares will directly affect the common man.

UPA govt had given employment opportunities to millions but the Modi govt has given uncontrolled prices and spiraling inflation to the countrymen, says Azad.

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Aazad takes on Modi government in Rajya Sabha, says inflation has risen to unprecedented level. What was the need to hike Rail fare, asks Azad.

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourns Lok Sabha till noon after chaos over price rise, rail fare hike, meanwhile proceedings continue in Rajya Sabha.

Opposition MPs shout slogans against government in Lok Sabha over rising prices.

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad initiates discussion.

Huge uproar in Lok Sabha as proceedings begin.

Proceedings in both Houses of Parliament begin. BSP chief Mayawati attacks BJP government, says instead of `acche din`, `mehenge din` have come. “We want a discussion on it in Rajya Sabha,” says Mayawati.

NDA government ready to discuss any issue raised by Opposition, assures Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu after Congress raises concerns over rising inflation.

The Speaker will go by the rulebook. Once elected, the Speaker is above party politics, says Parliamentary Affairs Minister.

Naidu terms as "unfortunate" Congress leader Kamal Nath`s remarks against Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on issue of Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari,Venkaiah Naidu, Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj meet PM Narendra Modi in Parliament.

We are very clear that Parliament should have a meaningful discussion, says Naidu.

No one raised the issue of Leader Of Opposition (LoP) in the all party meet, says Venkaiah Naidu.

“All parties will be included in the standing committees, chairmanship will be according to rules,” says Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu.

All party meet ends.

Inflation, prices of essential commodities will be an issue during the Budget Session, we will also raise incidents of communal violence and the demand for granting special status to Bihar, says Ali Anwar of JD(U).

“We will raise the issue of inflation through an adjournment motion in Parliament today,” Mallikarjun Kharge of Congress was quoted as saying by ANI.

Congress to move adjournment motion over inflation in Lok Sabha, say reports.

PM Narendra Modi arrives for the all party meet.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and NCP chief Sharad Pawar arrive for the all party meet.

All party meet called Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu begins.