Second leg of Parliament's Budget session to see 'EPIC' heat, debate on 3-language issue, Trump's tariffs

New Delhi: The furore over ‘EPIC’ or identical numbers for multiple voters’ cards, delimitation and alleged Hindi imposition through three language policy will resonate in the second leg of Parliament’s Budget Session starting Monday with the Opposition sharpening its rhetoric around these issues and the government all set to push for passing of the contentious Waqf Bill.

The US deportation episode as well as President Donald Trump’s announcement of imposition of reciprocal tariff will also form part of the Opposition arsenal in the session, which is scheduled to end on April 4 after passing the Budget.

One of the main focuses for the government would be to pass the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, as the Joint Parliamentary Committee has submitted its report amid Opposition protests on the last day of the first leg of Budget Session on February 13.

Besides this Bill, the government is also likely to table the The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025.

Sources said Opposition parties are coordinating among each other to maximise the impact while raising these issues in Parliament utilising various Parliamentary tools like demanding short duration discussions, calling attention motions and Zero Hour submissions.

The Opposition parties are unwilling to buy the Election Commission’s clarification that identical numbers for multiple Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) will not lead to fake voters or denial of opportunity to vote. Both Congress and Trinamool Congress will raise the issue in Parliament.

Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha floor leader Derek O’Brien has said that the ‘EPIC’ issue is a “serious matter” having a bearing on free and fair elections while pointing out that they were not satisfied with the EC clarification after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee raised the issue. 

Opposition sources said parties have submitted individual and joint notices under various provisions to raise the issue in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha during the days.

Another issue that could find resonance in Parliament would be delimitation and three language policy. While Congress is taking a nuanced position, DMK has upped the ante over three-language policy, claiming that the union government’s move to deny funds was meant to impose Hindi in the state.

While the Congress is supportive of the ally’s apprehensions, sources said the main opposition party would keep the sensitivity in Hindi-speaking regions while raising the issue.

Another issue that could see apprehensions over delimitation leading to loss of seats in Parliament for southern states where population control has been implemented better. Along with the language issue, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has raised delimitation.

Senior Congress MP Manish Tewari has waded into the issue, raising concerns that even North Indian states would also lose in terms of proportion of total strength of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, if delimitation is held on the current principles of one citizen, one vote and one value.

“The only gainers in this exercise would be the Middle India that would see a substantial increase in the number of Parliament seats as they have been laggards in population control,” he said.

Besides this, the Opposition is also likely to corner the government during the discussions on the working of ministries in both the Houses. In Rajya Sabha, the discussion will be held on Home Affairs, Education, Railways, Health and Family Welfare and a fifth ministry which is yet to be finalised.