Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the 9th NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting on Saturday. The meeting aimed to discuss development issues and policy matters. However, several Opposition Chief Ministers, including those from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Punjab, and Congress-ruled states, boycotted the session. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee attended the meet, while Puducherry CM skipped it after the center approved the union territory's budget proposals. The meeting went ahead with presentations from BJP-ruled states' CMs, focusing on their achievements. The session was part of the NITI Aayog's efforts to drive policy reforms.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sharply criticized the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) over her commitment to shelter Bangladeshi refugees. In response to the MEA's objections, Banerjee declared, "Don’t teach me a lesson; they should learn from the system instead." Her remarks followed dissatisfaction from Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry, which claimed her statements could mislead the public. The MEA reiterated that the central government alone handles foreign relations, as specified in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution. Banerjee's comments came amid violent clashes in Bangladesh, prompting her pledge to provide refuge.

In a scathing attack, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu compared former CM Jagan Mohan Reddy to Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar. Presenting a White Paper in the Assembly, Naidu criticized Jagan's tenure, stating it transformed Andhra into the "Ganja capital" of India. He highlighted the deteriorating law and order, citing numerous atrocities and harassment cases under Jagan's rule. Naidu also accused the YSRCP of terrorizing people and targeting political opponents, including himself, with multiple cases. He urged the youth to avoid drug use and vowed to improve the state's situation.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar faced criticism after shouting at women MLAs in the state assembly. During a protest by opposition members over reservation laws, Kumar was accused of being anti-reservation. In response, he waved his fingers and shouted, "You are a woman," at RJD MLA Rekha Devi, claiming women's rights improved under his leadership. RJD leader Rabri Devi called his behavior an insult to women, saying, "People know that he has no respect for women." Rekha Devi also accused Kumar of losing control and insulting her as a Dalit legislator. The incident has sparked controversy in Bihar politics.

Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, met with a delegation of farmers on Wednesday to discuss their demand for a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP). Gandhi assured the farmers that the Opposition alliance would pressure the central government to ensure this guarantee. He criticized the initial denial of entry to the Parliament Complex for the farmer leaders, which was later resolved. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha announced intensified protests, including a nationwide tractor rally on August 15 and additional rallies in Punjab and Haryana.

Congress MP P Chidambaram humorously criticized the BJP-led government for allegedly borrowing ideas from the Congress manifesto in the 2024-25 Budget. During the Lok Sabha session, Chidambaram suggested that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had drawn from specific pages of the Congress manifesto, urging her to explore more ideas from it. He quipped, “Copying is not prohibited in this House; in fact, copying is encouraged and rewarded.” The Opposition has criticized the Budget as “discriminatory,” leading to a walkout in the Lok Sabha. They argued the Budget favored NDA-ruled states over opposition-led ones.

Congress MP P Chidambaram posed five demands to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman following the Union Budget announcement. He called for a daily minimum wage of ₹400, a legal guarantee for MSP, the abolition of the Agnipath military recruitment scheme, the waiver of unpaid education loans till March, and the scrapping of the NEET exam for states that oppose it. Chidambaram criticized the government’s employment policies, referencing the high unemployment rate and the rush for limited private sector jobs. He urged the government to provide credible data on job creation and warned against potential empty promises.

Opposition MPs staged a walkout in Rajya Sabha today, protesting alleged discrimination against opposition-ruled states in the Union Budget. Leaders from the INDIA bloc, including Congress' Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi, led the protest inside and outside Parliament. The opposition claims the budget unfairly favors BJP-ruled states, sparking heated debates and disruptions in the upper house. The walkout highlights the growing rift between the government and opposition parties, with the latter demanding greater allocations for their states. The protest marks a new low in parliamentary relations.

Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has expressed disappointment over the Union Budget, citing the Centre's refusal to grant special category status to the state. Patnaik's Biju Janata Dal party had sought revision of coal royalty, which was also rejected. He noted that while Andhra Pradesh and Bihar received significant allocations, Odisha was overlooked. Patnaik criticized the BJP for reneging on its promise of special category status, made in their manifesto. The BJD supremo said Odisha would lose thousands of crores in revenue annually due to the Centre's decisions.

For the second consecutive day, the Odisha Assembly was adjourned due to opposition protests. The unrest began on Monday when Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik was accused of indiscipline during the Governor's address. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahaling sought Patnaik's arrest, sparking further debate. Additionally, opposition members protested against an alleged assault on a staff member by the Governor's son. Speaker Surama Padhy adjourned the House until Wednesday, July 24, 2024, to restore order and facilitate a smooth proceeding.