The session could end in the middle of next week, according to official sources. The cabinet committee on parliamentary affairs will make a final decision.
At a meeting of the business advisory committee of the Lok Sabha, which has leaders from all parties in addition to government representatives and is chaired by President Om Birla, most parties favored the reduction of the session that had started on 14 September and was scheduled to end on October 1.
Lately, most assemblies have had very short sessions of 1 to 3 days and have passed several bills in one day.
Two Union ministers, Nitin Gadkari and Prahlad Patel, who attended the current parliamentary session tested positive. Some MPs such as BJP’s Vinay Sahashrabuddhe also reported his positive Covid status.
So far, 30 MPs have tested positive, including 20 after the session began.
The Lok Sabha has so far passed three bills to replace ordinances related to the agricultural sector. In addition, both Houses approved a bill to replace an ordinance to cut parliamentarians’ salaries by 30 percent to increase funding in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
Opposition parties have told the government that holding a full 18-day session could be a risky business, the sources said. To prevent the spread of the coronavirus within the Parliament complex, reporters and parliamentary staff entering the premises are now required to undergo rapid antigen testing every day, in accordance with a new protocol implemented.
In addition, members of both Houses are undergoing RT-PCR tests at regular intervals on a voluntary basis, said a senior Parliament official.
An MP can undergo RT-PCR testing as many times as desired. Government officials accompanying their respective ministers during bill discussions must also show a negative RT-PCR test report taken within the last 72 hours of their visit to the complex.
The budget season shortened in March after the Covid-19 outbreak.
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