Congress wants tradition of President's address over; AAP & RLD create ruckus mid-speech

In a stormy start to session of Union Budget session 2021, 20 Opposition parties boycotted President's address to a joint sitting of both houses on Friday, in solidarity with farmers agitating against three farm laws, among or stated reasons.

Moreover, Opposition MPs including those of Aam Aadmi Party and Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) began sloganeering during President's address in Parliament. 

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RLP MP Hanuman Beniwal flashed posters and raised slogans against government over farm laws during President's address Joint Session of Parliament. Meanwhile, AAP members including MP Sanjay Singh began sloganeering against agriculture reforms in Parliament premises, after boycotting President's speech. 

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Congress leader Manish Tewari also criticized President's address, terming it as "an inane recitation of a laundry list of Government’s alleged achievements". Calling to end "ritual" of President’s address to a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament, Tewari said it is "sheer wast of precious Legislative time."

Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said reason behind boycotting President's address is to demand withdrawal of  farm laws and said that MPs would debate on same, during  Motion of Thanks. 

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Lok Sabha Speaker calls all-party meet 

Meanwhile, to seek cooperation of various parties for smooth functioning of Budget session, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla had convened a meeting of all political parties on Friday which is expected to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, news ncy PTI reported. 

Ecomic Survey for Union budget 2021 was tabled in Parliament on January 29.  Ecomic Survey, which is to be presented by Finance Minister on opening day of budget session, provides a summary of annual ecomic development across country during financial year.

Chief Ecomic Adviser KV Subramanian will address a press conference at 2.30 pm on presentation of Ecomic Survey 2020-21. Both houses will also debate on Motion of thanks to President's address after budget presentation. session will be held in two parts --January 29 to February 15 and March 8 to April 8 and will have a total of 33 sittings.

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