Second leg of Parliament's Budget session starts on Monday, Manipur Budget to be tabled

New Delhi: As tension is rising in Manipur, Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to table the proclamation of President's Rule and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will place the budget for the in the ethnic violence-hit state on Monday when the second leg of Parliament's Budget Session resumes.

The Opposition will be adding the resurgence of violence in Manipur to a slew of issues to its armoury to corner the Modi government. 

DH on March 8 reported that the Opposition would be raising the furore over ‘EPIC’ or identical numbers for multiple voters’ cards, delimitation, alleged Hindi imposition through three language policy and imposition of tariffs by the US during the session.

On its part, the government's focus would be to pass the Budget and the contentious but improvised Waqf (Amendment) Bill. 

A new version of the Waqf Bill incorporating the amendments suggested by the Joint Parliamentary Committee will be placed before the Parliament but will face tough protests from the Opposition. The Union Cabinet has already cleared the new Bill, which will see vociferous Opposition protest when it will be brought in the House for passage.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said last week that the government is keen on the early passage of the Bill. Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh has said the I.N.D.I.A bloc leaders will hold "extensive consultation" to jointly oppose the Waqf bill.

Shah will be tabling the Proclamation of President's Rule under Article 356 of the Constitution on Monday. Later in the day, Nirmala will table the budget for Manipur in both the Houses. 

On Monday, the government also listed the passage of The Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in Rajya Sabha and The 'Tribhuvan' Sahkari University Bill, 2025 in Lok Sabha.

While there is no structured meeting of the I.N.D.I.A. bloc scheduled for now, parties are consulting informally on floor strategy with sources claiming that there is synergy among them on raising issues.

One of the prominent themes for the Opposition parties would be the 'EPIC' (Electoral Photo Identity Cards) issue with multiple parties submitting notices seeking discussion on the issue. 

Trinamool Congress has identified it as one of its main issues while Congress said they would also raise the issue. Shiv Sena (UBT), CPI(M), CPI and DMK are also supportive of raising the issue. BJD is also concerned about it but said it would also raise Odisha's rightful claims on resources.

However, the DMK is focussing on delimitation with party MPs resolving to raise the issue. At a meeting chaired by DMK supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, party MPs were told to focus on the issue, as they believe the population-based exercise will affect not just the southern states but also others, including Odisha and West Bengal.

Congress will be holding a meeting of its Parliamentary Strategy Group headed by Sonia Gandhi on Monday evening.