Parliament LIVE Updates: The Monsoon session is scheduled to conclude on October 1. (File)
An 18-day monsoon session of parliament started on Monday with unprecedented precautions against the coronavirus, including staggered sittings of both houses and social distancing between MPs. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his traditional comments before the parliament session, delivered a strong message on the China border stand-off. A resolution for no Question Hour was also passed on Monday.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will address the parliament today on the India-China border row, shows the parliament's list of business for the day. The minister's address is expected to take place around 3 pm -- at the beginning of the proceedings in the Lok Sabha.
The Monsoon session of the Parliament is scheduled to conclude on October 1 without any day off. Both the Houses of Parliament will sit for four hours daily while following precautionary measures against COVID-19.
Staggered seating, compulsory wearing of face masks, frequent hand sanitisation, a no-touch door opener and a new seating arrangement for social distancing - is being taken to ensure complete Covid safety even as many of the older MPs did not attend the first day of the session.
Here are the LIVE Updates from the Parliament session:
"This is the largest repatriation process at anytime in history," Hardeep Singh Puri says on Vande Bharat Mission
Parliament Monsoon Session Updates: Around 1.6 Million Indians Stranded Abroad Brought Back To India- Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri
Around 1.6 million Indians stranded abroad have been brought back To India amid pandemic under the Vande Bharat Mission, says Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri in Rajya Sabha
Parliament Monsoon Session: Rajya Sabha to take up 'The Salaries and Allowances of Ministers (Amendment) Bill, 2020 Today - The government will today move the Salaries and Allowances of Ministers (Amendment) Bill, 2020 to amend the Salaries and Allowances of Ministers Act, 1952,
- The Bill will replace the ordinance which reduced the allowances of Ministers by 30 per cent for a period of one year, effective from April 1, 2020.
- The Salaries and Allowances of Ministers Act, 1952 regulates the salaries and other allowances of Ministers (including the Prime Minister).
- The Act provides for the payment of a monthly sumptuary allowance (for expenditure incurred in entertaining visitors) at different rates to the Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State, and Deputy Ministers
Mumbai and Delhi airports, privatised in 2006, account of 33 per cent of our traffic and earnings: Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri in Rajya Sabha
"We should look at the issue of privatisation in a historical context. After privatisation of Mumbai and Delhi airports, the Airports Authority received a huge amount of money that helped develop infrastructure of other airports": Hardeep Singh Puri in Rajya Sabha.
India has recruited over 1,000 Air Traffic controllers in 3 years: Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri in Rajya Sabha.
"Chennai is one of the major metropolitan cities but it doesn't have an international airport like that of Delhi or Hyderabad. I request the government let Chennai airport be developed to international standards," DMK MP P Wilson said in Rajya Sabha this morning, news agency ANI reported.
Monsoon Session Of Parliament: Samajwadi Party Leader Ram Gopal Yadav Seeks Compensation For Migrants
Jaya Bachchan gives Zero Hour notice over "alleged conspiracy to defame film industry"
Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan has given Zero Hour notice in the Rajya Sabha over "alleged conspiracy to defame film industry."
"Entertainment industry is so important. But so many people who have made a name from this industry are today calling it a gutter. The industry is being vilified on social media. Some of the people in the industry are among the highest taxpayers of the country. The government must stand by the entertainment industry," Ms Bacchan said.
"Just because of a few people you cannot tarnish the whole industry. I was ashamed yesterday that one of the members in the Lok abha who is from the industry itself spoke ill of the industry," she added.
Zero Hour notices in Rajya Sabha
Meanwhile, DMK MP Tiruchi Siva has given Zero Hour notice in the Rajya Sabha over 'adverse impact of holding NEET exams, leading to suicides by students'.
Congress MP Rajeev Satav has given Zero Hour notice over "drawing attention of central government on reservation of Maratha community."
Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan has given Zero Hour notice in the Rajya Sabha over "alleged conspiracy to defame film industry."
No Question Hour this Monsoon Session
Instead of the Question Hour, only written questions and answers will be allowed, which has hugely upset the opposition. "Question Hour is the golden hour but you say that it can't be held due to the circumstances. You conduct the proceedings but single out Question Hour. You are trying to strangulate the democracy," Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said on Monday in Lok Sabha.
Parliament to function for four hours
There will be four-hour sittings and parliament will function seven days a week. The Rajya Sabha will function from 9 AM to 1 PM, the Lok Sabha for 3 PM to 7 PM. Only on the first day, the Lok Sabha is meeting in the morning session.
