No Foreign Interference Ahead of Budget for 1st Time in 10 Years, Says Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi jibed at the opposition during his inaugural budget speech today, saying that this is the first parliament session in the last ten years where no foreign elements tried to instigate or trigger a spark before the session began.

“This is probably the first Parliament session since 2014 when attempts to stoke fire from abroad have not been made,” said Modi.

"I have been observing for the last 10 years, before every season, people get ready to do mischief and here we know that there is no shortage of people to escalate it,” he added further.

The Prime Minister's address came ahead of the budget session, which commences on January 31 and continues until February 13. The Modi government is set to present its first full budget on February 1 in the parliament after winning the election three consecutive times.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will set history as the first Indian finance minister to present eight consecutive budgets.

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Modi noted that various crucial decisions will be taken during the session to empower women to ensure they get equal rights and that any sectarian or faith-based discrimination is removed.

Speaking to reporters, he expressed confidence that this Budget session will infuse new confidence and energy in attaining the goal of 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047.

Sitharaman will present the Economic Survey 2024-25 soon after the President’s address in the Parliament today.

Chaos over International Reports

Ahead of the budget session in 2023, a US-based investment research firm Hindenburg Research released a report called "Adani Group: How The World’s 3rd Richest Man Is Pulling The Largest Con In Corporate History" on January 24. The research, conducted over two years, accused the Adani Group of decades-long stock manipulation and accounting fraud.

The opposition, who considers businessman Gautam Adani a close aide of Prime Minister Modi, demanded a debate on the issue during the budget session.

Opposition parties also staged a walkout from both Houses of Parliament on February 2 after their demand to discuss the matter was turned down.

With inputs from PTI