RS Chairman Calls For Meeting Of Floor Leaders

New Delhi: Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Venkaiah Naidu, has called for a meeting of floor leaders of all parties at 1.30 pm on Monday, to review the situation arising out of the COVID-19 health emergency and discuss the duration of the session, as also the likelihood of adjournment.

The Parliament is likely to take a call on the adjournment of both houses soon. Media reports suggest that after the passage of the Finance Bill, the Parliament could be adjourned sine die.

The Finance Bill is scheduled to be introduced at 2 pm on Monday. Meanwhile,

Trinamool Congress (TMC) members in both houses of parliament have decided not to attend either house on Monday in wake of COVID-19 spread. Rajya Sabha member Santanu Sen, who is also the President of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) told a media network that his party have decided to skip the parliament as a precautionary step in view of the COVID-19 outbreak. Sen also accused PM Modi of putting everyone's lives at risk.

The budget session of the Parliament reconvened on March 2 and had to be adjourned repeatedly in view of protests for an urgent discussion on the riots which took place in North East Delhi towards February end. While opposition parties led by the Congress insisted on an urgent discussion on Delhi violence, the government replied stating that it was ready for a discussion and scheduled it to the post-Holi period. Union Home Minister Amit Shah gave his reply to the discussion in both houses in the session which followed Holi.

Following the outbreak of COVID-19, discussions took place in the Parliament on tackling the novel coronavirus. Many leaders in opposition parties called for Parliament to be adjourned in view of the global health pandemic.