New Delhi, February 13: The first phase of the Budget session concluded on Friday, marked by intense political debates surrounding the India-US interim trade deal and the memoir of former Army Chief MM Naravane, whose publishing status has sparked controversy both within and outside Parliament. Following a three-week break, the Lok Sabha will reconvene on March 9. The Rajya Sabha has also been adjourned and is set to resume its proceedings on the same date after the recess.

The Parliament’s Budget session, which began on January 28 with the President’s address to a joint sitting of both Houses, will consist of 30 sittings over 65 days, with the session scheduled to end on April 2. The break will allow Standing Committees to scrutinize the Demands for Grants from various ministries and departments.

Earlier in the day, Opposition MPs staged a protest outside the Makar Dwar in the Parliament House complex, demanding the resignation of Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. The protest came after Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi raised concerns about Puri's alleged links to the infamous financier Jeffrey Epstein, following the release of new Epstein files by the US Department of Justice. MPs from various opposition parties carried placards with the slogan “Who's grip, who's choke,” in reference to the ongoing controversy.

Rahul Gandhi had claimed, earlier this week, to have verified information connecting Puri to Epstein, triggering the protest.

Meanwhile, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju announced that the government had decided to withdraw its proposed Motion against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. This motion was related to Gandhi's discussion of the unpublished memoir by former Army Chief Naravane during his budget speech in Parliament. Rijiju clarified that the Centre decided to drop the motion after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey moved a Substantive Motion against Gandhi. Rijiju further stated that once the Substantive Motion is admitted, the government will consult with the Speaker to determine whether the matter should be referred to the Privilege or Ethics Committee, or be directly debated in the House.