The Lok Sabha on March 23 passed Demand for Grants authorising expenditure of about Rs 45 Lakh Crore for the financial year 2023-24 by voice vote amid din.
Most of the second leg of the Budget Session has been washed out due to pandemonium scenes and repeated adjournments.
When the house met at 6 pm, Speaker Om Birla applied for the Guillotine, after which the outstanding demands for grants were put to voice vote and passed. The house passed Demand for Grants and Appropriation Bill 2023, authorising the Government to withdraw funds from the Consolidated Fund of India for its working as well as the implementation of programmes and schemes for the fiscal beginning April 1, 2023.
The Appropriation Bill was introduced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The Bill was later approved by voice vote after rejecting cut motions moved by Opposition members.
The demands were passed as the Opposition MPs trooped into the well of the house, raising slogans. The house was adjourned for the day.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on Indian democracy and related matters continued to disrupt the Parliament proceedings consecutively for the eighth day.
Rajya Sabha, after the first adjournment, met at 2 pm. However, the scene was no different. Treasury bench and Opposition members have been resorting to sloganeering on their demands since last week.
