The Coronavirus pandemic cut short the Budget Session of the Parliament on Monday (March 23) with both Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha getting adjourned sine die. However, both the Houses approved The Finance Bill, without any discussion, to authorise the Centre’s expenditure beyond March 31.
The Session was supposed to go on till April 3. Due to the lockdown in many parts of the country and the Dushyant Singh episode that left many MPs go into self-quarantine, the attendance in Parliament was thin.
Rajya Sabha bids farewell to 57 MPs
After Lok Sabha passed the Finance Bill, the Upper House returned the Bill to the Lower House following a mandatory voice vote sans any discussion.
Also, the Rajya Sabha bid farewell to 57 members from 20 States who are set to retire before the Monsoon Session that usually begins in July. Since Monday, unexpectedly, turned out to be their last day in the law-making process unless they are re-elected, the members made their farewell speeches.
Among those retiring are T.K. Rangarajan of the CPI (M), Vijila Sayananth of AIADMK and Tiruchi Siva of the DMK. Siva is being renominated to Rajya Sabha by his party.
Applause to medicos
Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkiah Naidu lead the Upper House in a standing ovation to doctors, para-medics and others from the medical fraternity who are fighting on the frontlines to contain the spread of coronavirus. All members of the House stood up and clapped as the Chairman recalled Sunday’s Janata Curfew and the 5-pm applause for medical fraternity.
Earlier, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla led the Lower House to a similar applause in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, along with other Union Ministers like Rajnath Singh and Nirmala Sitharaman.
Agreement With Opposition
The swift approval of The Finance Bill and the adjournment was enabled by quick behind-the-scene consultations between leaders of various political parties and the Chairmen of the two Houses. Many MPs made it clear that they wanted the Parliament Session to end.
BJP MP Dushyant Singh had attended a party with singer Kanika Kapoor, who has since been tested positive foe COVID-19. Dushyant Singh had subsequently attended the Parliament session and the MPs who interacted with him had to go into self-quarantine.
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The list included Anupriya Patel of the Apna Dal, Varun Gandhi of the BJP and Derek O’Brian of the TMC who came out in the open to emphasise that the session should not continue.
With such a background, many MPs of the Shiv Sena, TMC and NCP decided not to attend the Session anymore. Congress MP Vivek Tankha also tweeted that he would not be able to attend Parliament proceedings.
Many MPs were worried about getting back to their homes, before domestic flights getting suspended on Wednesday.
J&K Budget approved
The Budget for Union Territory of Jammu Kashmir was also approved by the Rajya Sabha by voice vote after a brief discussion. However, attendance in the House was so thin that the day’s agenda was approved without the usual trend of discussions running behind schedule.
Covid-19 Package Sought
Members of both the Houses expected a package for the coronavirus-affected people, especially the poor. Adhir Ranjan Choudhury of the Congress repeatedly demanded a package in the Lower House, but the half-day agenda today was adequate only to clear essential Government business.