Rajya Sabha, or the Upper House of the Indian Parliament, will hold the first structured debate on the Covid-19 pandemic on Wednesday, setting the stage for fierce criticism of the government from the United Opposition.
After months of scathing remarks about the government’s handling of the Covid-19 situation, the Opposition will debate the issue, but it is still unclear how much time will be allocated to the debate.
But the government will also have ample opportunity to present its defense and hail its success in keeping the death rate from Covid-19 lowest among major nations. Rajya Sabha President Venkaiah Naidu has decided to combine clarifications on the health minister’s statement with a debate on Covid-19.
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Congress has demanded a separate and comprehensive discussion on the most important issue that has wreaked havoc on the Indian economy and the livelihoods of millions of Indians and has plummeted first quarter GDP to -23.8%.
The head of Congress, the whip Jairam Ramesh, wrote to Naidu on Tuesday, saying: “If we cannot have a full discussion on the Covid-19 situation without being circumscribed by the minister’s statement, what is the point of having this Rajya Sabha session on the first site? ”
He also reminded Naidu that the decision to combine the debate with clarifications on the minister’s statement “goes against what V Muraleedharan (minister for parliamentary affairs) had assured me this morning that the two will be addressed separately.”
Demanding a minimum 4-hour debate on Covid-19, Ramesh said: “At the BAC (panel to decide the matter of the House) held on September 13, you yourself said that it is very important to have a discussion about the situation of prevailing public health. . Your decision today goes against the spirit of your own statement. ”
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The Upper House has included the Ayurveda Teaching and Research Institute Bill 2020 and the Ministers’ Salaries and Allowances (Amendment) Bill 2020 for approval on Wednesday.
At the Lok Sabha, fireworks are expected as the government has listed three controversial bills for approval: the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2020, the Agricultural Agricultural Products Trade and Trade Bill ( Promotion and Facilitation) of 2020 and the Farmers Bill (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Guarantee and Agricultural Services Act, 2020.
Congress and other opposition parties vehemently oppose the three bills that would replace the related ordinances, even as many experts have hailed the farm bills as reformist legislation that would free Indian farmers.
At least three senior congressional leaders maintain that the measure will only help corporate crop buyers and weaken India’s MSP and other safety nets for farmers.
Congressional governments in Punjab and its Haryana state unit have raised significant objections, claiming that these states have already begun to face protests from farmers against the new laws.
Left-wing parties have organized protests both inside and outside the Parliament complex and would also oppose the bills.
The 2020 Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill is another critical point. Congress has already raised five major objections. They said cooperative banks are part of the cooperative structure and should be regulated by state governments, not by the Center. “If the ordinance becomes law, all the key financial intermediaries will be under the control of the Central Government, there will be more centralization. The Congress Party defends decentralization and the empowerment of states, ”the party said in a statement last week.
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