Budget 2024 session: President Murmu arrives in Parliament in traditional buggy

President Droupadi Murmu made a grand entrance at the new Parliament building for the Budget Session on Wednesday, choosing a traditional horse-drawn carriage reminiscent of its recent appearance during the 75th Republic Day celebrations. The President, accompanied by guards, headed to the Parliament in the buggy for her address to a joint sitting of both Houses ahead of the Budget Session commencement.

Welcoming her arrival were Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Before her address, traditional rituals of ‘Sengol’ were conducted in the House, with the sacred item being brought into the Parliament along with the President and installed in her presence.

Earlier this year, on May 28, PM Modi had placed the golden spectre in the Lok Sabha chamber, next to the Speaker’s chair in the new Parliament building, following a puja. The historic ‘Sengol’ was handed over to PM Modi by Adheenams and adopted as a national symbol of the Amrit Kaal.

This is the same ‘Sengol’ that was accepted by India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, at his residence on the night of August 14, in the presence of several leaders. The Republic Day Parade saw President Droupadi Murmu and French President Emmanuel Macron arriving at the ceremonial boulevard Kartavya Path in the traditional buggy after a hiatus of 40 years.

The ongoing Parliament session, the last before the Lok Sabha polls expected in April-May, is slated to have a total of eight sittings spread over 10 days. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to present the interim budget on Thursday, February 1.

According to the list of business by Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, proceedings in both Houses will commence half an hour after the President’s address. The Secretary Generals of Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha are set to present a copy of the President’s address on their respective tables.

A meeting chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh with floor leaders of political parties was held on Tuesday ahead of the Interim Budget Session. Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Pralhad Joshi, announced that the session may conclude on February 9, with a focus on financial matters related to the Interim Union Budget for the year 2024-25 and discussions on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address. Legislative and other essential business will also be addressed during this session. Furthermore, presentations and discussions on the Interim Budget of Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir for 2024-25, along with Supplementary Demands for Grants of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for the financial year 2023-24, are expected to be taken up and voted on.