The budget session of Parliament commenced on Friday with President Droupadi Murmu’s address to a joint sitting of both Houses. In her speech, President Murmu emphasised that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government is working on all-round development. However, the president’s speech faced backlash from the opposition parties. Congress leader Karti Chidambaram opined, “I think the President of India and I live in two different countries.”
Further, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi said the president “could hardly speak, poor thing”.
President Droupadi Murmu’s speech
President Murmu’s address kickstarted the Budget Session.
During the speech, the President of India said, “My government is working with the Saturation Approach, so nobody is left in the journey of Viksit Bharat… We have only one aim to become Viksit Bharat.”
President Murmu lauded the PM Modi-led government’s initiatives to mitigate the impact of climate change.
‘President was getting very tired’
Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s reaction to President Droupadi Murmu’s address to the Joint session of Parliament stoked a controversy.
“The president was getting very tired by the end…She could hardly speak, poor thing,” Sonia Gandhi told reporters after President Murmu’s speech.
‘President and I live in two different countries’
Reacting to President Murmu’s address, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram told ANI,” I think the President of India and I live in two different countries. The President’s view of the country she governs over and the country I live in seems to have stark differences. The President seems to celebrate success which I don’t deny is there but glossed over the harsh realities of daily life in India.”
‘Government is merely lying’
Trinamool Congress MP Kirti Azad targeted the BJP-led central government saying that for the last 11 years, they have been lying, adding that nothing is going to come out of this year’s Economic Survey also.
The TMC MP said, “For the last 11 years, the government is merely lying. When PM Modi was a candidate for prime minister, he made several promises that he will give ₹15 lakh to all, 2 crore jobs every year, half the rates of diesel and petrol. They always lie. All they do is lie. Nothing is going to come out of the Economic Survey…”
How did other opposition leaders react?
Congress MP Kumari Selja said, “The president’s address is meant only to talk about what the government has done. We will bring out the reality when we speak on the President’s address.”
“You can see how foreign powers next to us are getting powerful. But what is the government doing…,” she adds.
Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal said, “The president was made to deliver a political speech. Nothing is new. Everything is only a complete lie and jumla.”
Economic Survey 2024-25
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tabled the Economic Survey for 2024-25 in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, soon after both Houses were adjourned for the day.
According to the Economic Survey, India’s economy is projected to grow between 6.3 per cent and 6.8 per cent in FY26.
Union Budget 2025
The finance minister will present the Union Budget in the Lok Sabha at 11 am on February 1. The budget speech will outline the government’s fiscal policies, revenue and expenditure proposals, taxation reforms, and other significant announcements.
