At an all-party meeting held ahead of Parliament’s Budget session, opposition parties demanded structured discussions on several pressing issues, including the restoration of UPA-era MGNREGA, the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls, India’s foreign policy, and the controversy surrounding new UGC guidelines. The meeting, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, saw participation from senior ministers including JP Nadda and Kiren Rijiju, along with floor leaders from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

The government, however, maintained that the primary focus of the Budget session would be the Budget itself. It suggested that other issues could be raised during the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address, emphasizing that Parliament cannot roll back legislation already introduced. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rijiju also clarified that the legislative agenda would be circulated later, addressing concerns raised by opposition parties over the lack of prior information.

Opposition MPs, including Congress, CPI(M), DMK, and TMC, insisted on detailed, structured debates that would allow ministers to respond directly. CPI(M) MP John Brittas argued that discussions during the Motion of Thanks are limited and do not satisfy the demand for comprehensive deliberation, particularly on voter roll revisions and alleged electoral malpractices.

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The meeting also addressed the contentious UGC regulations aimed at addressing caste-based discrimination in higher education. While some opposition MPs criticized the guidelines, Chandrashekhar Azad of the Azad Samaj Party defended them, claiming they were necessary to curb rising discrimination and accusing critics of misrepresenting the provisions.

Additional issues raised included Centre-state relations, alleged misuse of governors’ offices, the Amaravati capital bill, India-EU trade agreements, and restrictions on social media for minors. Opposition MPs also urged discussions on foreign policy, citing concerns about India’s global positioning and recent international controversies.

Despite these demands, the government reiterated that the Budget would remain the central focus, assuring that other issues could be brought up during parliamentary debates in the context of the President’s Address or Budget discussions. Rijiju emphasized that the government remains open to suggestions while maintaining procedural norms, signaling limited scope for separate debates on the raised matters.

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