Rajasthan Assembly Budget 2026 Presentation Disrupted Five Times by Opposition Protests
The proceedings in the Rajasthan Assembly during the presentation of the State Budget 2026 were disrupted five times on Wednesday as opposition members strongly objected to several claims made by Finance Minister Diya Kumari. The session descended into chaos multiple times, with heated exchanges and demands for investigations dominating the floor.
Flashpoint Over Paper Leak References and Testing Agency Announcement
The flashpoint occurred when Finance Minister Diya Kumari referenced paper leak cases under the previous Congress government while announcing the formation of the Rajasthan State Testing Agency. This new agency is intended to prevent future examination irregularities and ensure transparency in state-level tests.
Opposition MLAs immediately accused the government of presenting what they described as "misleading" claims on three key issues: paper leaks, progress on the Yamuna Water Project, and the repair and upgradation of government schools across the state.
Heated Exchanges and Demands for CBI Probe
Congress leader Govind Singh Dotasra led the charge against the government's assertions, engaging in heated exchanges with ministers Madan Dilawar and Sanjay Sharma. Dotasra alleged the government's statements were "a bunch of lies" and claimed they directly contradicted official records available to legislators.
As Kumari specifically referenced "paper leaks during Congress' tenure," Dotasra was joined by fellow opposition MLAs Rohit Bohra and Rafeek Khan in demanding a comprehensive CBI probe into paper leak cases during both Congress and BJP governments. This demand notably included scrutiny of the tenure of former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, broadening the scope of the investigation beyond partisan lines.
Speaker's Intervention and Restless Assembly Atmosphere
Speaker Vasudev Devnani intervened repeatedly throughout the session to restore order, particularly after Finance Minister Kumari demanded the opportunity to continue her budget speech without interruption. Despite these efforts, the disruptions persisted, creating a tense parliamentary environment.
The budget speech itself lasted almost three hours and was delivered to a visibly restless audience. Several MLAs, including those from the treasury benches, were observed stepping out intermittently for washroom visits or to attend phone calls, indicating widespread disengagement during the lengthy presentation.
Lighter Yet Pointed Exchange Over Minister's Alertness
In a lighter but pointed exchange that highlighted the overall frustration with the proceedings, opposition leader Govind Singh Dotasra pointed toward agriculture minister Kirori Lal Meena, alleging he was dozing off during what Dotasra termed a "boring budget" presentation. This remark underscored the opposition's criticism of both the content and delivery of the budget speech, suggesting it failed to capture the attention of even government allies.
The repeated disruptions and contentious debates have cast a shadow over the budget presentation, raising questions about governance transparency and inter-party cooperation in Rajasthan's legislative process.
