LS passes `45L-cr budget sans debate

Lok Sabha on Thursday approved the Union Budget envisaging an expenditure of around `45 lakh crore for the fiscal year starting April 1 without any discussion, as the Opposition continued to create ruckus over demand for a JPC probe into charges against the Adani Group.

The Lower House took up the Demands for Grants and Appropriation Bills after two adjournments as the ruling and Opposition MPs engaged in a matching duet over demands for an apology by Rahul Gandhi and the

Adani issue.

Soon after the Lok Sabha reassembled at 6pm after two adjournments, Speaker Om Birla put the Opposition’s cut motion or amendments to the government spending plan to vote which was rejected by voice vote. This was followed by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharman moving the demands for grants for 2023-24 and relevant Appropriation Bills for discussion and voting.

Birla applied guillotine and put demands for grants of all ministries for voting. The demands were passed as the Opposition MPs trooped into the Well of the House shouting slogans. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present during the passage of Budget for 2023-24.

The entire exercise was over in 12 minutes completing two-third of the parliamentary approval for the Budget for 2023-24.

Navjot Kaur Sidhu, wife of jailed former Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu has been diagnosed with stage 2 invasive cancer. She shared the news on Twitter, saying she is waiting for the leader and probably suffering more than him.

“He (Navjot S Sidhu) is in the prison for a crime he has not committed. Forgive all those involved. Waiting for you each day outside probably suffering more than you. As usual trying to take your pain away, asked for sharing it. Happened to see a small growth, knew it was bad,” she tweeted.

“Waited for you, seeing you were denied justice again and again. Truth is so powerful but it takes your tests time and again. Kalyug. Sorry can’t wait for you because it’s stage 2 invasive cancer. Going under the knife today. No one is to be blamed because it’s God’s plan: Perfect,” she said.

The Dhami government has put the recruitment mafia behind bars to end scams in government recruitment. Anticopying law has been implemented in the state to secure youth's future.

The government has also kept the poll promise of providing three LPG cylinders for free to the poor every year. It has announced 30% quota in government services for state women and 10% reservations in jobs for agitators.

In Mussoorie, the place where the state government took major decisions in the year, a three-day Chintan Shivir was organised for the first time with the bureaucracy drawing the attention. The government's goal was to encourage officers to break away from their old routines and work according to new ideas and work culture. Chief Minister's historical address in this camp infused new energy into the bureaucracy.

Tough measures against recruitment mafia. The state has implemented country's strictest anti-copying law in the state.

30% quota for women in state government jobs.

Strict law enacted to prevent conversion by force or inducement

Government moving in the direction of Uniform Civil Code

Antyodaya families get facility of free refill of three LPG cylinders in a year

Initiative to make 1.25 lakh women millionaires by 2025 under Lakhpati Didi Yojana

10 per cent reservation for state agitators

Record number of devotees came for Chardham and Kanwar Yatra due to efficient management

On the lines of Kedarnath Dham and Badrinath Dham, infrastructural development in mythological and ancient temple areas of Kumaon under Manaskhand Mandir Mala Mission

One district two product scheme to promote local products under Vocal for Local

Procurement of waste Millet Mission, Mandua at a minimum support price of Rs3,574 per quintal