Indian Government Rejects Opposition’s Demands Ahead of Budget Session

The Indian government has dismissed demands from the Opposition for discussions regarding the VB-G RAM G Act and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls ahead of the upcoming Union Budget session, set to commence on February 1, 2026. This decision was confirmed by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, who stated that both matters have already been extensively debated in previous sessions.

During an all-party meeting held prior to the budget session, Rijiju emphasized that the government would not entertain requests to revisit these issues. “Once a law is before the nation, we have to follow it. We cannot reverse the gear and go back,” he remarked, referring to the VB-G RAM G Act, which was enacted during the Winter Session of Parliament. According to reports from the Press Trust of India (PTI), Rijiju’s comments came after members of the Opposition, including Jairam Ramesh from the Congress Party and John Brittas from the CPI(M), voiced concerns regarding the lack of circulation of government business for the session.

Opposition members raised several topics they wished to discuss, including the SIR, the VB-G RAM G Act, U.S. tariffs on Indian goods, foreign policy issues, air pollution, economic conditions, and restrictions on social media access for young teens. Rijiju responded to these demands by reiterating that many of the issues could be brought up during debates on the President’s address and the budget, rather than necessitating separate discussions.

The Union Minister also addressed concerns regarding the sharing of government business for the session. He noted that this is typically released after the President’s address, but he is willing to provide the information sooner. “This is the first session of the year. Normally, the list of government business is shared after the president’s address. However, I am prepared to share the list,” he stated.

Rijiju urged members to express their concerns but emphasized the importance of maintaining order in the House. He appealed to all parliamentary members, stating, “In our parliamentary democracy, we have been elected to represent the people and to speak for the people. While exercising our right to speak, we must also have the duty to listen to the members of other political parties.”

As the Union Budget session approaches, the government’s firm stance on these matters indicates a potential for heightened tension between the ruling party and the Opposition, particularly concerning significant reforms and policies that could impact the electorate.