New Delhi: The presentation of the Interim Budget (General) for 2004-05 was delayed in the Lok Sabha today (Feb 3, 2004) after Congress and other Opposition parties raised certain objections to its introduction.

As soon as the House assembled at 11:00 hours for the presentation of the Budget by Finance Minister Jaswant Singh, Congress Chief Whip Priyaranjan Dasmunsi said the statute made no reference to an Interim Budget except in cases of emergency like external aggression or natural disaster.

Dasmunsi, joined by CPM (Communist Party of India-Marxist) leader Somnath Chatterjee, said at this juncture no such situation existed and the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP)-led Government only wanted to woo the voters for the coming Lok Sabha polls.

Chatterjee said the first session in a year should have been preceded by the President's address to the joint sitting of two Houses, which has not been followed.

He said irrespective of adjournment Sine Die or prorogation of the winter session of Parliament, the present session was the first in the current year and it should have been preceded by the President's address.

This was totally unconstitutional sitting of the House and in violation of Constitutional provisions, he said.

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, his deputy L K Advani and Leader of Opposition Sonia Gandhi were present.