Lok Sabha passes Interim Budget

Lok Sabha today passed the Interim Budget for 2014-15 and voted two Bills seeking appropriation of Rs 20,76,561 crore with hardly any discussion.

The Budget and the two Bills were approved by a voice vote in the din caused by SP and JD(U) members on the issue of reservation particularly in the super speciality departments in AIIMS.

The House also passed the Finance Bill, 2014 which seeks to continue the existing income tax rates including the surcharge on the super rich individuals and corporates.

Senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi was the lone member to speak on the Budget and the Appropriation Bills. There was no reply from the government.

The Appropriation (Vote On Account) Bill, 2014, provides for withdrawal of Rs 20,30,334 crore from the Consolidated Fund of India for expenses during the first four months of the new financial year 2014-15.

The other Bill--Appropriation Bill, 2014--authorises withdrawal of Rs 46,227 crore towards meeting supplementary expenditure in the current fiscal.

Joshi described the Interim Budget as "account for vote" and not vote on account.

Joshi's speech was cut short by Speaker Meira Kumar asked him as the uproar continued.