The Rajya Sabha, on the 16th of September, passed several bills including the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda Bill and the Salaries and Allowances of Ministers (Amendment) Bill.
During the Monsoon Parliament Session of 2020, passed the two bills separately.
Besides the bill, the Rajya Sabha also held discussion over the statement of Dr. Harsh Vardhan, the Union Health Minister regarding the Coronavirus situation in India.
Anand Sharma, the Member of Parliament (MP) of the Indian National Congress (INC) said, “Yesterday, the Health Minister said that this decision of lockdown prevented approximately 14 to 29 lakh COVID-19 cases and 37,000-78,000 deaths. The house must be informed what is the scientific basis on which we’ve reached this conclusion.”
Other arguments and debate during the Rajya Sabha session were related to the ongoing COVID-19 situation.
Elamaram Kareem, a Rajya Sabha member of the CPI (M) said, “The first case of COVID-19 was reported in India was on January 23. But at that time, the government was busy in welcoming US President Donald Trump and dethroning the government in Madhya Pradesh. And then came the sudden lockdown.”
Derek O’ Brien, a MP of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) alleged the ruling government, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of having autocracy rule instead of democracy.
During the Rajya Sabha session, Mr. Brien said, “This government needs the humility to work with the states. Unless you have the one thing, how can we go forward. You must not use pandemic to convert democracy into an autocracy.”
The debate session lasted for 3 hours, of which 2.5 hours were given to leaders to raise questions and 0.5 hours to the ministers for responding.
At 1:00 A.M., the Rajya Sabha session was adjourned till 9:00 A.M., tomorrow (the 17th of September.)
Later at 3:00 P.M., in the Lok Sabha session would begin, during which three contentious bills are likely to be proposed.
The three bills are: The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill.
While Rajya Sabha session started from 9:00 A.M., Lok Sabha session of the Monsoon Parliament would begin at 3:00 P.M.
Today is the third day of the 18 day Monsoon Session of Parliament. The Parliament session began on the 14th of September, amid the outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus pandemic.
Stay tuned for further updates.
