Key issues to dominate Parliamentary debates

March 10, 2025 Hot from the Oven Valli Sarvani

As the second phase of the Budget session begins on Monday, a series of critical discussions are expected in Parliament.

The government and opposition are preparing for heated debates, with the latter set to challenge the ruling party on various issues.

These include alleged electoral roll manipulation, the surge in violence in Manipur, and India’s foreign policy under the Trump administration.

Meanwhile, the government remains focused on securing budget approvals and legislative clearances.

The government’s primary goal is to complete the budgetary process by securing Parliament’s approval for the demands for grants and passing the Manipur budget.

Additionally, it aims to push for the passage of the Waqf Amendment Bill, which has already been approved by the Union Cabinet for introduction. The bill is expected to generate significant discussion, particularly among opposition members who have raised concerns about its potential impact.

A major point of contention in the session will be the political situation in Manipur. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Manipur budget. At the same time, Home Minister Amit Shah will introduce a resolution in Parliament.

The resolution seeks approval for the President’s Rule in Manipur. The state has been under President’s Rule since February 13. This followed the resignation of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh.

Given the state’s prolonged crisis, the opposition is expected to strongly oppose the government’s handling of the situation.

Another major issue expected to dominate discussions is the opposition from Southern states regarding the delimitation process and language policies.

The DMK is concerned about the “imposition of Hindi” through the three-language formula in NEP 2020. This issue is a challenge for Congress. Congress needs to balance its interests in Southern India while also working to regain influence in Northern states.

With the Bihar Assembly elections approaching, the party’s positioning on this debate will be closely analyzed.

As the session progresses, both the government and the opposition will have intense discussions. This is an important time for shaping the political landscape.

Image Credit: Narendra Modi, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Source: YouTube at 0:28 min