This Budget session could be UPA's last

BUDGET SESSION: Pratibha Patil's speech will give an idea of where the Government's priorities lie.

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New Delhi: The Budget session of Parliament, whcih begins on Monday, is probably the most crucial Parliament session in the last four years. This session, say experts, could be the last one of this Government for the UPA is adamant that the Nuclear deal with the US be signed whereas the Left is vehemently opposed to it. A breakthrough still not clearly visible.

So the Government will try and present a budget this time, which is expected to a total election oriented budget.

The aam aadmi (common man) could be bombarded with sops — a trick that didn't work with the NDA government in 2004.

On the table are several other key issues:

• Internal security woes
• A law to check surrogate advertising for liquor and tobacco products
• Raj Thackeray sponsored Outsider debate
• Reservation for women — not as a new bill but as a Constitution amendment bill

However, this last point has already stirred up a controversy with Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Priyaranjan Das Munshi saying, "We want to tell the country that the BJP is making a fool out of them by raking up the women's reservation bill."

And there is another contention — will legislative business take place at all? Recent Parliamentary experience suggests otherwise with disruptions, walkouts and dharnas being the order of the day and Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee has been heard time and again appealing to all parties to allow the House to function.

His plea may not be required at least for the first half of the session for a woman president will be addressing a joint session of Parliament for the first time.

And Pratibha Patil's speech is what many are looking forward to as it will give an idea of where the Government's priorities lie.