Lok Sabha today took up discussion on the Supplementary Demands for Grants – Second Batch for 2025-2026. It includes 61 Grants. The government has sought to authorise a gross additional expenditure of over two lakh 81 thousand crore rupees.
Initiating the discussion, Jagdambika Pal of the BJP said that due to the situation in West Asia, a state of uncertainty has arisen across the world. He said the price of crude oil has increased from 88 dollars to 119 dollars per barrel, which will have a direct impact on fertilisers, gas, and transportation. Mr Pal said this supplementary grant is a solution to the current crisis. He said the Narendra Modi government is accelerating development works at a rapid pace and also providing subsidies on fertiliser to the farmers.
Ram Shiromani Verma of the Samajwadi Party raised the issue of unemployment and demanded to raise the income of farmers. He said that the country’s progress is possible only when all states are taken along. Mr Verma also demanded that the Members of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLADS) funds should be increased from the present five crore rupees to 25 crore rupees per year.
Ganpathy Rajkumar of the DMK raised the issue of the reported shortage of LPG cylinders in the country. Daggumalla Prasada Rao of the TDP said that India is steadily progressing towards the vision of Viksit Bharat. He said that the agriculture sector is boosting the economy. Mr. Rao also stated that the provision of 19 thousand crore rupees as fertiliser subsidy will support the farmers.
Supriya Sule of NCP(SP) said the world is in a global crisis. She urged the government to call an All-Party Meeting urgently and discuss the ongoing situation in West Asia. She added that the opposition would be happy to work in the larger interest.
Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi alleged that there has been colossal wastage of public money and gave the example of the NRC project in Assam. He claimed that the entire process led to the wastage of crores of public money.
NK Premachandran of RSP stressed that strict compliance of financial rules and directions of the Public Accounts Committee is required to avoid huge supplementary demands for grants.
Congress MP K Suresh said the realities experienced by millions of ordinary citizens across the country raise serious concerns about whether public expenditure is addressing the needs of farmers, youth, and marginalised communities.
The discussion remained inconclusive. Later, the House was adjourned for the day. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will reply to the discussion tomorrow.
