New Delhi: The demise of E Ahamed MP when the Lok Sabha is in session has cast doubts over the presentation of union Budget Wednesday.
Former Union minister and IUML leader E Ahamed passes away
Ahamed passed away in the wee hours of the day after collapsing in Parliament Tuesday while the president was addressing the Budget session.
Normally, in case of the demise of a member of Parliament when the Lok Sabha is in session, the House adjourns for a day after mourning.
But this time it is a unique situation as Budget is scheduled to be presented for the first time on February 1, departing from nearly a decade old tradition of presenting budget on the last day of February.
One option is to present the Budget before adjournment of Lok Sabha.
Another option being mulled is to present it in Rajya Sabha after the Lok Sabha is adjourned. Ahamed was a Lok Sabha MP from Malappuram.
Meanwhile, former Lok Sabha secretary general PDT Achari said the lower House could adjourn in the morning as a mark of respect to the departed lawmaker and the Budget could be presented Wednesday evening.
During the monsoon session of Parliament last year, the House was adjourned after an MP from Madhya Pradesh passed away, but prime minister Narendra Modi did introduce the newly inducted cabinet members before adjournment.
Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan is expected to take a final call on the issue after holding discussions with opposition and ruling party leaders.
The opposition has demanded postponement of the budget as Ahamed had collapsed during the president's address. It has made known that if the government goes ahead with Budget presentation, it would boycott the proceedings.
The demand also comes in the backdrop of charges that the relatives of Ahamed were not allowed to meet him and were kept in the dark about his health condition while he was being treated in the government RML hospital.
Hectic parleys are on between the Lok Sabha secretariat and speaker's office about Budget presentation, but sources indicate that the government is keen to present the Budget.
