Parliament to Continue Debate on President’s Address
PM Narendra Modi was expected to reply to the Motion of Thanks on Wednesday, but after repeated disruptions and sloganeering by Opposition members, the Speaker adjourned the Lok Sabha
New Delhi: Both Houses of Parliament are scheduled to continue the discussion on the motion of “Thanks to the President’s Address” during the ongoing Budget Session on Thursday.
In the Lok Sabha, the motion was moved by Sarbananda Sonowal and seconded by Tejasvi Surya. The House has allotted 18 hours for the discussion.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was expected to reply to the Motion of Thanks on Wednesday, but after repeated disruptions and sloganeering by Opposition members, the Speaker adjourned the Lok Sabha. The Prime Minister is now likely to reply in the Rajya Sabha as the discussion continues.
In the Upper House, BJP MP Sadanand Master moved the motion of thanks. The motion comes in response to President Droupadi Murmu’s address to the joint sitting of both Houses marking the beginning of the Budget Session on January 28.
According to the List of Business, the Lok Sabha is scheduled to begin with a discussion on the Union Budget 2026–27.
MP Suresh Gopi will also make a statement regarding the status of implementation of recommendations contained in the Fifth Report of the Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Gas (2024–25) on action taken by the government on the 23rd Report of the Committee (2023–24) on the “Review of Policy on Import of Crude Oil” pertaining to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
Proceedings in the Rajya Sabha will begin with an obituary reference to former MP Thomas Kuthiravattom.
On Wednesday, a fierce row erupted over former Army Chief General MM Naravane’s unpublished memoir on the 2020 China standoff, triggering sharp accusations and a BJP–Opposition slugfest inside and outside Parliament. This led to the postponement of the Prime Minister’s address after the Speaker adjourned the Lok Sabha amid the ruckus.
The standoff centres on Rahul Gandhi’s attempt to cite Naravane’s unpublished memoir on the eastern Ladakh standoff, which BJP leaders said violated House rules and risked demoralising the armed forces. The BJP accused the Opposition of deliberately creating disruptions to prevent the Prime Minister from speaking, while the Congress alleged he avoided scrutiny on national security.
The Budget Session comprises 30 sittings over 65 days and will conclude on April 2. The two Houses will adjourn for a recess on February 13 and reconvene on March 9 to allow Standing Committees to examine the Demands for Grants of various ministries and departments.