New Delhi, Dec 15 (UNI) The Government on Tuesday rejected the Opposition's demand to convene the winter session of Parliament and asked instead that why the Congress, after seeking an early termination of the monsoon session, was now demanding a winter session.

Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi made it clear here that the winter session of Parliament will not take place but instead the budget session will be called directly.

Mr Joshi said he had informally contacted floor leaders of various political parties on whether to hold the session when Covid-19 cases were going up in Delhi or to hold the budget session of Parliament directly. To this, many leaders had advised that since the monsoon session of Parliament had concluded recently, the budget session could be organised directly.

Regarding the demand for winter session of Parliament by the Congress, Mr Joshi said that he wanted to ask the party why it had demanded the early end of the monsoon session in September and what was the rationale for the demand to call the session again.

UNI XC-SD SHK1836