President Ram Nath Kovind will address the joint session of Parliament on Friday, which will mark the beginning of the Budget session.
As many as 16 Opposition parties, including the Congress and its allies, Left parties, and Trinamool Congress announced that they will boycott the address. Later in the day, AAP, SAD and BSP also said they are boycotting.
Here are the live updates:
10.55 am
President Ram Nath Kovind arrives for the joint session. He is welcomed by Rajya Sabha Chairperson M. Venkaiah Naidu and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
10.50 am
Budget part of 4-5 mini Budgets: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the media.
“Today commences the first Session of this decade. This decade is very important for the bright future of India. A golden opportunity has come before the nation to fulfill the dreams seen by the freedom fighters,” he says in Hindi.
This decade should be fully utilised. Keeping this in mind, there should be discussions in this session focussing on the decade…