Budget Session to begin today; Citizenship, Triple Talaq Bills to be discussed

January 31: The Budget Session of Parliament will begin on Thursday, January 31, with President Ram Nath Kovind addressing the joint sitting of Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha members. The session, which will end on February 13. As many as 28 bills will be tabled in the Lok Sabha, while 39 bills are listed for the Rajya Sabha for the upcoming session.

The budget session is likely to be stormy as the government will make efforts to pass the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and the triple talaq bill. Long pending issues including the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016 and the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016, will be discussed in the Lower House. Meanwhile, the Triple Talaq Bill and Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 passed in the Lok Sabha in the last winter session of the Parliament will be in focus in the Upper House of the Parliament.

Meanwhile, the Opposition is likely to corner the government on a range of issues, including the contentious Rafale fighter jet deal and alleged agrarian distress. If reports are to be believed, the Centre is likely to table a Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report on the Rafale deal during the session.

The Congress on Wednesday announced that it will issue a three-line whip to its members of Rajya Sabha to vote against the Citizenship bill. The decision was taken after separate meetings with Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad.