Parliament braces for stormy Monsoon Session amid COVID pandemic – 10 points

In view of the coronavirus pandemic, several arrangments have been made to check the spread of the virus in adherence to health norms and social distancing guidelines.

Key Highlights

• The 18-day Monsoon Session will see many firsts, including sitting of the two Houses in shifts

• The opposition has sought a discussion in Lok Sabha on the issues of economic slowdown, unemployment

• Parliament was adjourned sine dine in March, days before PM Modi announced nationwide lockdown

New Delhi: Parliament is also set to witness fiery Monsoon Session from Monday amid the coronavirus with oppostion gearing up to corner the Centre over a host of issues ranging from India-China standoff and its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 18-day Monsoon Session will see many firsts, including sitting of the two Houses in shifts - 9 am to 1 pm and 3 pm to 7 pm without no offs even on weekends, a negative COVID-19 report for entry, compulsory face mask among others.  

In view of the coronavirus pandemic, several arrangments have been made to check the spread of the virus in adherence to health norms and social distancing guidelines.

Here are the top 10 points on this big story:

1. The session will be held in two shifts in the wake of the coronavirus crisis. Except for the first day, Rajya Sabha will convene in the morning shift from 9 am till 1 pm, while Lok Sabha will sit evening shift from 3 pm to 7 pm.
2. The MPs and staff of secretariats of both houses, along with the media persons covering the proceedings, will be allowed to enter the premises only after providing a COVID-19 negative report, with the test conducted not more than 72 hours before the start of the session.
3. Complying with social distancing guidelines, a new seating arrangement has been prepared for the members of both houses to avoid the risk of infection. The chambers of both houses and their respective galleries will be used for sitting of the members in each shift.
4. There will be no Question Hour and Private Members' Bills will not be taken up in the session. The Zero Hour will be there and the un-starred questions will be laid on the table. Question Hour is the first hour of a sitting session of the House that allows members of Parliament to ask questions from the government on several prevailing issues.
5. The opposition has sought a discussion in Lok Sabha on the issues of economic slowdown, unemployment, and border tension between Indian and Chinese forces. The opposition parties have also planned to corner the BJP-led Centre over these issues.
6. The ruling party is also ready with ammunition to blunt the opposition’s expected attack. To counter their offensive, the BJP has reportedly decided to bank on loopholes of the opposition, including a division among the rivals and internal bickering within Congress apart from the Centre’s initiatives during the monsoon session.
7. The government will introduce 23 new Bills during the session, including 11 which seek to replace ordinances. One of the ordinances to be replaced by a Bill during the session relates to providing preventive measures against violence on healthcare workers.
8. Parliament was adjourned sine dine in March, days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the nationwide lockdown to check the spread of coronavirus.
9. This is the first Parliament session being held since the deadly Galwan Valley clash in which 20 Indian soldiers were martyred after a fierce face-off with Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh on June 15.
10. Congress president Sonia Gandhi will miss the first part of the monsoon session as she left for abroad with son Rahul Gandhi for her annual check-up abroad on Saturday. Days before her departure, Sonia had held a meeting of the parliamentary strategy group to formulate a joint strategy for the monsoon session.