Budget session ends with record seating, India passes major bills amid high political heat

New Delhi: The second half of the budget session concluded with the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill on Friday – a political charged step that caused one of the most productive and marathon meetings of Parliament in recent years.
The session saw more than 100% productivity in both homes, making history with Rajya Sabha for more than 17 hours without breaks.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said, “History was created and the old records were broken in the Rajya Sabha when it sat continuously from 11 am to 4:02 am on Thursday,” to argue and pass the Waqf Bill and Andores President’s rule in Manipur. The Lok Sabha debated the Waqf Bill for about 14 hours on 2 April.
Productivity, legislative business at the peak

These included prominent financial and administrative laws such as finance bills, appropriation bills, immigration and foreign bills, and Tribhuvan Sahkari University Bill.
The President’s rule in Manipur was confirmed after mid-mid-midnight-42 minutes of debate in the assembly and 1 hour 24 minutes in the Rajya Sabha.
Political Flashpoint: Waqf (Amendment) Bill
The Waqf Bill, widely seen as the most resulting legislative step of the government in its third term, provoked the intensive debate. The NDA and India Block voted to a large extent with party lines, with the bill to pass 288-232 in the Lok Sabha and 128-95 in the Rajya Sabha.
While the opposition parties accused the government of infiltrating Muslim religious matters, Rijiju defended the law. “A lively discussion happened without disintegration, and allowed to vote on opposition-proposed amendments,” he said. He also suggested that if the parties had not issued a whip, the bill could get widespread support: “Many MPs expressed personal support.”
The numerical success of the BJP was assisted by Vivek MPs by voting from BJD MPs, while AIADMK was biased with the opposition, in a break from the recent proximity of the BJP.
The Congress took the exception to the speaker Om Birla’s criticism of Sonia Gandhi, claiming that there was “bulldoed”. Rijiju said that the bill was “debated and voted in a large scale,” his charge was dismissed as “completely baseless”.
Opposition resistance, BJP’s vocalism
Opposition parties flagged off the fears of economic crisis, delimitation and three language policy. On the other hand, the government highlighted stability, economic development and political pace after the recent state election victory.
The BJP leader said, “The message is clear.” “Despite not having an absolute majority, our ideological commitment and governance resolutions are firm.”
Session highlight and gaps
While the government was in a hurry to trumpet extended hours and high production, the session also saw the legislation interval of legislative investigation.

Record-breaking debate echoing past
Rajya Sabha President Jagdeep Dhikar saw people uninterruptedly for 17 hours living in the history of the house.
It joined a list of landmark sessions including a 20.08-hour debate on “State of Under Democracy” at the lock assembly and the 1981 marathon on the essential service maintenance bill that lasted till 4:43 pm.
As the session wrapped, both sides claimed victory – the opposition in unity and challenge, the government in legislative distribution. But with major policies, now the challenges of the potential court are facing, the fight on the Waqf Bill and other Parliament can be transferred from the Parliament to the judiciary.