New Delhi: The Parliament approved Wednesday, the Modi government’s sixth and final budget that gave income tax rebate to those earning up to Rs 5,00,000, an annual cash dole of Rs 6,000 to small farmers and pension for unorganized sector workers.
While the Lok Sabha has passed the Appropriation Bills that gave Government authorisation of spending certain sums till the next government presents the full Budget for 2019-20, and the Finance Bill after full debate, the Rajya Sabha passed them without discussion Wednesday – the last day of the session.
The 13-day budget session was a washout in the Rajya Sabha as opposition parties stalled proceedings daily over issues ranging from Rafale fighter jet deal to Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.
On the last day, a consensus was arrived at among political parties to approve the Interim Budget as also the Motion thanking the President for his address to the joint sitting of Parliament at the beginning of the session without a debate.
Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu referred to the consensus in the House after it met following a 40-minute adjournment caused by a ruckus created by Samajwadi Party and TMC over different issues.
Minister of State for Finance Shiv Pratap Shukla moved the Appropriation Bills and the Finance Bill that were approved by voice vote.
Earlier Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel made an appeal for adopting the Motion of Thanks to the President Ram Nath Kovind’s address without a debate and the same was adopted by voice vote.
In reply to the budget in the Lok Sabha, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal had hit out at the opposition for trying to ‘belittle’ PM Kisan Samman Nidhi which assures Rs 6,000 yearly assistance to small farmers. He had said that those who live in palaces will not understand importance of Rs 2,000 every four months.
The Minister also rejected the opposition charge that he presented a full budget, stating he has not proposed any new tax proposals, concessions or scheme in the Interim Budget which was tabled February 1 in the Parliament.
PTI