Neerja Chaudhary is telling what is difficult in convening the Parliament session

Some standing committees of Parliament have started functioning again, which is a welcome step. There is also a growing demand that the monsoon session of Parliament is called soon. Since covid-19 is not going to end soon and expect even better, its vaccine is delayed by several months. In such a situation, the Speaker of Lok Sabha and the Chairman of Rajya Sabha will have to find ways to get the business started in both the houses.

Life is finally returning to normalcy despite more than 50,000 new cases being reported every day and being the third most infected country in the world. Unlock-3 has started. Under this, many more restrictions will end from August 5. During Unlock-3, the night curfew will end in cities, gyms will open. However, domestic flights had started functioning to some extent and some trains were also running. 50 people were allowed to attend the wedding ceremony and 20 people at the funeral. The devotees have also got permission to visit the temples.

And now Prime Minister Modi will join the Bhoomipujan of Ram temple in Ayodhya. 200 people have been invited for the occasion, which will end an issue that has damaged Indian politics for 70 years. Clearly, critics say that given the difficult time we are living and the huge challenge facing the government of Uttar Pradesh with the increasing cases of Kovid-19, when we have spent seven decades for the temple Had waited, could have waited seven more months.

State Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had to go there to oversee cleanliness and other arrangements because the Prime Minister is going to visit there on this occasion. Seeing that the Ayodhya issue has played an important role in bringing the BJP into mainstream politics, the Prime Minister decided to go there. Political developments are also making the situation feel normal.

The Rajasthan government is in danger of internal rebellion against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot by his former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot. As we have seen, the Speaker's authority has been challenged in the court, a dramatic dispute ensued between the Chief Minister, a master of the game of politics, and an equally fast governor. Obviously, political maneuvers have resumed. However, many people are saying that this is not the time for maneuver when COVID-19 is at its peak and has power.

On the second level, they suppress the old and familiar 'normal' situation, distracting Kovid from the grim reality. However, the question cannot be avoided that if all this is possible despite Kovid, then why cannot the Parliament session be held!

Opposition parties are demanding that a parliament session be called to discuss a number of issues that have come up in the last four months. The government has taken several decisions to manage the lockout and epidemic, as well as the issue of lack of hospitals and medical facilities. During this time there has also been a confrontation with China on the Line of Actual Control. The government announced a financial package of twenty lakh crore rupees and has made several reforms like increasing FDI in many areas.

The economy has suffered heavily. The health of the banking sector is worrying. Similarly, the impact on the health and welfare of the most vulnerable sections of society, children, women, and migrants is also important. Their difficulties are not over and we have to understand what is happening with them in the villages. And then the new education policy has just been announced, which will have a far-reaching impact on the lives of our children and it also calls for a wider debate.

Parliament is a forum to debate and ask questions. Other countries have also called their respective Parliament sessions in some way. These include countries that were severely affected by the epidemic, such as Italy, France, Spain, Britain, and neighboring Nepal. So we also have to find ways to enable Parliament to consider important issues and listen to the voice of the opposition.

Now some standing committees have started meetings and they have considered the impact of the epidemic. They are also physically meeting, although some MPs have been called for online consideration. The importance of standing committees cannot be adequately underlined. These committees have mostly legislative functions and this is certainly good. In fact, these committees are often effective, away from the glare of the camera.

MPs from various parties also often have to compromise on controversial issues. They do not need to take a public stand on the party line, as in Parliament. But the debate in both houses of parliament has its own importance, not only in the legislature but also in making parliamentary democracy like ours accountable to the government. And also to raise issues that are bothering people.

Educational institutions have to develop ways of conducting online classes and start thinking about how to educate tribal children such as children without internet and computer facilities so that they are not left out. We are now beginning to consult e-commerce and doctors over the telephone as new regulations.

We have to develop the means by which Parliament starts functioning normally, whether physically or digitally or a combination of both. Whether it is in China or by taking decisions on the epidemic, we can give our message to the world and the country. And it needs to be done sooner rather than later.