Government prorogues budget session of Parliament

NEW DELHI: The Modi government has recommended proroguing of the budget session of Parliament before March 31 to deal with the fiscal challenge of Uttarakhand arising out of the current political crisis. The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs is learnt to have decided to prorogue the Parliament, government sources told ET. President Pranab Mukherjee is learnt to have signed the order to prorogue the Lok Sabha and is likely to grant his assent to prorogue the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

The primary reason, sources said, was non-approval of Uttarakhand budget by the governor in the wake of political crisis in the state on March 18 when Speaker declared finance bill as passed in controversial circumstances. The move also allows the government to choose its time to summon the next leg of the budget session where it will have to face the opposition’s majority in RS over the imposition of President’s rule, sources said.

Meanwhile, the Centre has decided to field AG Mukul Rohatgi to appear before a division bench of HC to challenge the single judge bench’s order asking for floor test in Uttarakhand assembly