<b>Periscope</b>: Cabinet secretary to reply on early Budget

According to govt plans, the Budget session of the Parliament will begin from February 1

Cabinet Secretary Pradeep Kumar Sinha's reply on the plea of Opposition parties seeking postponement of the Budget presentation date is due on Tuesday. The Election Commission of India (ECI) wrote to Sinha (according to officials, this is accepted practice on all election-related communication the ECI receives and no politics should be seen in this) on the issue and asked him to respond. The ECI is believed to have asked the Centre to explain why it wants to advance the Budget session, to take an informed decision.

According to government plans, the Budget session of the Parliament will begin from February 1. The session is being advanced as the government wants early allocation of funds for various schemes from April 1, beginning of the financial year.

Leaders from the Congress, Trinamool Congress, DMK, Janata Dal (United) and Rashtriya Lok Dal visited the Election Commission on Thursday to protest the Union Budget date, coming just before the Assembly elections in five states.

The Opposition requested the EC to ensure the Budget is held after these polls  — Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur —conclude on March 8.

“Populist measures could be taken in the Budget, so a just and fair election cannot be held," Ghulam Nabi Azad, leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, said after meeting EC officials."We demand the Budget be presented after March 8, which is when polling for elections will be over.” 

Congress to prepare strategy for note ban stir at CWC 

The Congress party is planning to call a meeting of its highest body, the Congress Working Committee (CWC), on Wednesday. The meeting is expected to further outline the party’s attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government on demonetisation. 

In the earlier CWC meeting on November 1, veteran leader A K Antony had indicated Vice-President Rahul Gandhi had  agreed in principle to take over leadership of the party. Congress President Sonia Gandhi was absent, as she was indisposed. It was Rahul who addressed the party on its foundation day on December 28. The current political situation will also be discussed. The party will review its preparedness in the poll-bound states of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Manipur, Uttarakhand and Goa. It will also review its attitude to the Samajwadi Party and the possibility of a pre-poll alliance with Akhilesh Yadav.

India, France seek to bolster ties; French foreign minister meets Modi

Seeking to strengthen their strategic relationship, India and France on Sunday discussed a wide spectrum of issues, including defence and terrorism, with French side saying the bilateral ties should move forward with the speed of a Rafale fighter jet. During the talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French Minister for Foreign Affairs Jean-Marc Ayrault in Bengaluru, both leaders had discussions on international terrorism, of which the two countries are victims.