Parliament Budget Session 2026 highlights: Opposition demands apology after Amit Shah's attendance jab at Rahul Gandhi

Proceedings in the Lok Sabha came to an end on Wednesday after a high-voltage debate and repeated disruptions in the House.

The Lok Sabha rejected the Opposition’s no-confidence motion against Speaker Om Birla after a heated debate in the House.

The motion was defeated following voting, with the ruling BJP and its allies opposing the resolution. The debate saw sharp exchanges between the government and the Opposition, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah strongly defending the Speaker and accusing the Opposition of undermining parliamentary traditions.

During the uproar in the Lok Sabha, Congress leader KC Venugopal interrupted Amit Shah’s speech and questioned the focus of the discussion.

Venugopal asked whether the debate was about the no-confidence motion against the Speaker or about the Leader of Opposition. His remarks came as tensions escalated in the House during Shah’s criticism of Rahul Gandhi’s attendance record.

The Lok Sabha witnessed loud protests as Opposition MPs raised slogans while Amit Shah was speaking.

Members shouted slogans such as “Amit Shah maafi maango” as the Home Minister read out attendance figures of Rahul Gandhi from the 15th to the 17th Lok Sabha. Amid the protests, Shah said angrily that members would now have to listen to him.

Amit Shah also alleged that Rahul Gandhi often travels abroad during important parliamentary sessions and later claims he was not allowed to speak.

He criticised the demand for a debate based on a press conference, saying the Lok Sabha does not hold discussions on individual press briefings. Shah said past national leaders never expected debates in Parliament based on their press conferences.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated his criticism of Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s attendance record in Parliament.

He said Gandhi’s attendance was around 51 per cent in the 17th Lok Sabha compared to a national average of about 66–67 per cent. Shah added that in the 16th Lok Sabha Gandhi’s attendance was 52 per cent while the House average was nearly 80 per cent, and in the 15th Lok Sabha his attendance stood at about 43 per cent against a national average of 76 per cent.

During the debate, Amit Shah addressed complaints from some Opposition members about microphones being switched off in the House.

He said microphones are turned off only when members fail to follow rules or maintain discipline. Shah asserted that maintaining order is essential for parliamentary proceedings and that the Chair must ensure debates continue within established norms.

Continuing his remarks, Amit Shah said the Speaker’s office gave the Opposition an opportunity to correct mistakes in their submission.

He said despite the notice not being in line with rules on two occasions, Speaker Om Birla allowed members to rectify the errors and submit the motion properly. Shah described this as evidence of fairness and seriousness in parliamentary functioning.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday claimed the Opposition’s notice for the no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla initially contained multiple procedural errors.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Shah said the notice reportedly mentioned the year 2025 instead of 2026 and lacked a properly attached motion. He added that members must submit notices with original signatures as per House rules, not photocopies. Shah stressed that the House will function according to Lok Sabha rules, not the rules of any political party.

During his address, Amit Shah said Congress MPs have collectively spoken for 157 hours and 55 minutes in the ongoing 18th Lok Sabha.

He questioned why Rahul Gandhi himself had not spoken more if he believed the Opposition’s voice was being suppressed. Shah said no Speaker has the power to arbitrarily stop members from speaking and alleged that misinformation is being spread to defame the Lok Sabha.

Amit Shah said the decision on participation in debates is not solely determined by the Speaker, but also by members and their parties.

He said if members fail to be present in the House when discussions are scheduled, they cannot later claim that they were not given the opportunity to speak. Shah argued that such allegations are used to create a misleading narrative about parliamentary functioning.

Continuing his remarks, Amit Shah said Rahul Gandhi’s claim that he is not allowed to speak in the Lok Sabha is incorrect.

The Home Minister alleged that the Leader of Opposition chooses not to participate in debates. Shah said the claim that the Speaker prevents members from speaking is misleading, asserting that the opportunity to speak depends on members being present and participating in House proceedings.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday targeted Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over his attendance record in Parliament.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Shah said Rahul Gandhi’s attendance in the 17th Lok Sabha was around 51 per cent, while the House average stood at about 66 per cent. He added that during the 16th Lok Sabha, Gandhi’s attendance was about 52 per cent compared to the overall average of nearly 80 per cent.

Amit Shah on Wednesday alleged that false propaganda is being spread claiming that Opposition leaders are not being allowed to speak in the Lok Sabha.

He said the Speaker should not be lectured on moral grounds and reminded the Opposition that when their party was in power, Speakers were chosen from among their own members. Shah added that parliamentary procedures must be respected regardless of political differences.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has shown “moral courage” during the ongoing debate on the motion against him.

Shah noted that in previous instances when such motions were discussed, Speakers did not preside over the House. He said Birla’s conduct demonstrates confidence in parliamentary processes and reflects his commitment to the dignity of the institution.

During his address, Amit Shah referred to Article 96 while discussing the process followed when a motion for the removal of the Speaker is taken up.

He said that during such discussions, the concerned presiding officer does not occupy the Chair. Shah noted that similar motions had come up three times earlier, all when the Congress was in power, and in those cases other presiding officers conducted the proceedings for several days.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah rejected claims that the government suppresses the Opposition’s voice in Parliament.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Shah said the only time the Opposition’s voice was truly suppressed was during the Emergency, when several opposition leaders were jailed. He asserted that under the present government, Opposition parties are free to raise issues and participate in debates in the House.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said the Opposition is free to bring a proposal against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Parliament, but targeting the Lok Sabha Speaker is not a courageous move.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha during the debate on the motion against Speaker Om Birla, Shah said the government is ready to discuss issues raised by the Opposition. However, he argued that attempting to remove the Speaker, who is the custodian of the House, undermines parliamentary traditions.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah further objected to Opposition MPs staging protests near the Prime Minister’s seat during Lok Sabha proceedings.

He said parliamentary debate should take place within established rules and traditions, rather than through demonstrations inside the House. Shah stressed that maintaining discipline and respect for the Chair is essential for the smooth functioning of Parliament and meaningful discussion on key national issues.

During his address, Amit Shah also questioned senior Opposition leaders over the conduct of some MPs in the House. He cited instances of members tearing papers and throwing them towards the Chair during protests.

Shah said such actions weaken parliamentary decorum and make it difficult for the Speaker to conduct proceedings smoothly. He also criticised disruptions during important debates and said protests must not obstruct the functioning of Parliament.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also criticised the Opposition’s conduct in the Lok Sabha, accusing some members of disrupting proceedings and undermining parliamentary discipline.

He said issues for discussion in the House are decided beforehand and members must stick to the agenda. Shah remarked that if a member deviates from the subject, the Speaker has the authority to intervene and ask them to resume their seat.

Continuing his remarks in the Lok Sabha, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the Speaker is not merely a presiding officer but represents the “legislative conscience” and dignity of the country’s democratic system.

He said raising doubts about the Speaker’s integrity undermines the institution itself. Shah added that leaders who believe they enjoy special privileges eventually lose both public and political support, stressing that parliamentary traditions must be respected by all parties.

Speaking during the debate, Shah said Members of Parliament have the right to protect their privileges but cannot assume special powers beyond constitutional provisions. He emphasised that questioning the Speaker’s integrity amounts to questioning the dignity of Parliament and the legislative conscience of India’s democracy.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said the Lok Sabha cannot function according to the “whims and fancies” of any particular political party.

Speaking in the House during the debate over the no-confidence motion against Speaker Om Birla, Shah said parliamentary proceedings must strictly follow established rules and procedures. He added that the functioning of the House is governed by constitutional provisions and institutional norms, not by the preferences of individual parties.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday dismissed suggestions that unusual powers were being exercised in the Lok Sabha amid the ongoing debate over parliamentary conduct.

He said the Constitution does not grant extraordinary authority to any individual beyond what is prescribed. “There is no Emergency,” Shah said, asserting that the House continues to function under established rules and procedures governing parliamentary proceedings.

During his address in the Lok Sabha, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that while the Constitution provides rights to Members of Parliament, it does not grant anyone special privileges beyond those provisions.

He emphasised that the rules of the House must be followed by all members. Shah also rejected allegations of extraordinary authority being exercised, stating that the functioning of Parliament continues strictly within the framework laid down by the Constitution.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the list of unparliamentary words used in the Lok Sabha has evolved over time and was not created during any single tenure.

Speaking in the House, Shah said the list has been shaped over decades by several distinguished presiding officers. He added that the rules governing parliamentary conduct, including restrictions on certain expressions, are binding on all members and cannot be selectively applied.

Addressing the House during the debate, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the Constitution assigns the Speaker the role of a neutral mediator in parliamentary proceedings.

He alleged that by bringing the no-confidence motion, the Opposition had cast doubts on the credibility of the Speaker’s office. Shah added that over the past 75 years, both Houses of Parliament have strengthened the democratic foundations of the country, and questioning the Speaker’s integrity weakens that legacy.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday criticised the Opposition for bringing a no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, calling the move unprecedented in recent decades.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Shah said such a motion against the Speaker had not been brought for nearly four decades. He termed the development “unfortunate for parliamentary politics” and said it undermines the traditions and functioning of the House.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said the Lok Sabha Speaker has the authority to expunge unparliamentary words from the House proceedings. Speaking during the debate on the Opposition’s no-confidence motion against Speaker Om Birla, Shah said any language deemed unparliamentary must be removed from the official parliamentary records in accordance with established rules and conventions of the House.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said the functioning of the Lok Sabha is based on mutual trust between the ruling side and the Opposition. Speaking in the House, Shah said the Speaker acts as the custodian of the House’s functioning, while its proceedings are governed by established rules framed by the House itself. He added that within these rules, both the government and the Opposition have the right to raise issues related to their privileges and concerns.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said that when the BJP was in the Opposition, it never brought a no-confidence motion against the Lok Sabha Speaker. 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday criticised the Opposition for bringing a no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, saying the Constitution assigns the Speaker the role of a mediator in the House. Speaking during the debate, Shah said casting suspicion on the mediator weakens parliamentary traditions. He added that over the past 75 years, both Houses of Parliament have strengthened the foundations of India’s democracy, and questioning the Speaker’s reputation amounts to casting doubt on that deep-rooted democratic foundation.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said the opposition’s no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla was not an ordinary development, noting that such a move had been brought after nearly four decades. Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Shah said it was unfortunate for parliamentary politics and the dignity of the House. His remarks came as the Lower House witnessed intense exchanges between the treasury benches and the opposition during the discussion on the motion.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said it was unfortunate for parliamentary politics that a resolution seeking the removal of the Speaker had been brought in the Lok Sabha.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said that the Speaker belongs to the entire House and not to any particular party, as he intervened during the debate on the no-confidence motion in the Lok Sabha.

During proceedings in the Lok Sabha, Shri Hasmukhbhai Somabhai Patel presented reports examining the financial proposals of two key industrial ministries.

The 332nd Report evaluates the Demands for Grants for the Ministry of Heavy Industries, while the 333rd Report focuses on allocations for the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. The committee’s findings are expected to inform parliamentary debate on industrial growth, manufacturing capacity, and support for MSMEs under the 2026–27 Union Budget.

Shri Hasmukhbhai Somabhai Patel, MP, laid two reports of the Standing Committee on Industry in the Lok Sabha during the ongoing Budget Session.

The reports include the 332nd Report on Demands for Grants (2026–27) pertaining to the Ministry of Heavy Industries and the 333rd Report concerning the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME). These reports review budget allocations, sectoral challenges, and policy measures impacting manufacturing and small businesses.

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday received multiple reports related to budget allocations for social welfare ministries as part of parliamentary scrutiny of the Union Budget 2026–27.

MP Shri Godam Nagesh tabled reports examining financial proposals for departments dealing with social justice, empowerment of persons with disabilities, tribal affairs, and minority affairs. The reports outline committee observations and recommendations on funding requirements and policy priorities for these sectors.

In another development during Lok Sabha proceedings, Godam Nagesh, MP, presented four reports of the Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment for the year 2025–26.

These include the Seventeenth Report on Demands for Grants (2026–27) of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the Eighteenth Report on Demands for Grants for the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, the Nineteenth Report on Demands for Grants of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, and the Twentieth Report on Demands for Grants of the Ministry of Minority Affairs.

Lok Sabha witnessed the tabling of an important parliamentary committee report as Dr Manna Lal Rawat, MP, presented the Eighteenth Report of the Standing Committee on Coal, Mines and Steel.

The report reviews the Demands for Grants (2026–27) for the Ministry of Coal and evaluates policy priorities, financial allocations, and sectoral requirements. Such reports help Members of Parliament better understand ministry spending plans before the House takes up detailed discussions on the budget.

In the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, Dr Manna Lal Rawat, MP, presented the Eighteenth Report of the Standing Committee on Coal, Mines and Steel concerning the Demands for Grants for the financial year 2026–27 for the Ministry of Coal.

The report forms part of Parliament’s scrutiny of the Union Budget, where parliamentary committees examine ministry-wise expenditure proposals. The committee’s recommendations and observations will now be taken into consideration during further discussions on the ministry’s budgetary allocations.

Rajya Sabha continues discussion on the working of the Ministry of Rural Development.

BJP’s Anurag Singh Thakur says that Speaker Om Birla has allowed everybody to speak, irrespective of the party. “Whether it be Congress or SP, Mr. Birla allowed everybody to speak. Even those who got fewer opportunities by their party were given a chance to speak by Om Birla.

Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 2 pm.

This house doesn’t represent one party, it represents the whole Country. Multiple times, I have been stopped from speaking, Rahul Gandhi says. This happened for the first time. Last time I raised the key issues. Our PM is compromised, he said. 

Chaos in Lok Sabha as Ravi Sahankar Prasad speaks. Opposition disrupts the proceedings and raises slogans.

Defending PM Modi, Ravi Shankar Prasad, said the PM can never be compromised. He spoke after Rahul Gandhi's allegations, saying that the PM is compromised, 

Rahul Gandhi mounts attack on the government in Lok Sabha. He slams Speaker of the Lok Sabha, says he was stopped from speaking after he raised key issues. He also alleged that the PM is compromised. 

On PM Narendra Modi meeting Union Ministers Hardeep Puri and S Jaishankar over commercial LPG cylinder shortage, RJD MP Manoj Jha says, "There is uncertainty in the minds of the people. In the face of that uncertainty, the Prime Minister should speak in the House. When the MEA gives statements, they do not take questions or provide clarifications. We have never seen such opacity."

JDU MP Sanjay Kumar Jha says, "Everything is under control in India. Prime Minister Modi has reviewed this, and the government has clearly stated that there is no shortage... Any attempt to spread rumours and spoil the atmosphere should be avoided. The government has clearly said that there is no shortage at present, but hoarding should not be done... The government is vigilant about these things..."

Lok Sabha adjourned till 12 p.m. amid Opposition protest, seeking discussion on LPG crisis.

Opposition parties have begun collecting signatures to move an impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with more than 100 signatures already secured, according to sources in the All India Trinamool Congress.

TMC sources said the signature campaign is underway and the minimum requirement to initiate the motion has already been crossed. The move is part of a broader effort by parties in the INDIA bloc.

The Indian National Congress, Samajwadi Party and Aam Aadmi Party are among the parties backing the TMC-led initiative, sources added.