Monsoon Session 2020 HIGHLIGHTS: Harivansh Narayan Elected As Rajya Sabha Dy Chairman; Aviation Bill, Homeopathy Bill Introduced, 25 MPs Test Covid Positive

Monsoon Session 2020 HIGHLIGHTS: Parliament has given its nod to two bills that ensure quality homeopathy and the Indian system of medicines. Harivansh Narayan Singh has been elected as the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha. Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha adjourned till tomorrow.

Background

Monsoon Session 2020 LIVE Updates: Amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the much-awaited Monsoon Session of the Parliament began on Monday morning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauding all the MPs for choosing duty over Coronavirus. Just before the start of the Monsoon Session, PM Modi spoke to reporters outside Parliament and asserted that major decisions will be taken during Parliament proceedings with discussions on various subjects in both the houses. ALSO READ | "Nation Stands Behind Soldiers" Says PM Modi As Oppn Set To Corner Govt In Parliament Over China Border, Falling Economy Today

The Prime Minister expressed his firm belief that all lawmakers will do a value edition during the discussion. The Monsoon Session will continue till October 1.
NDA candidate Harivansh Narayan Singh was re-elected as Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha through a voice vote on Monday. “I declare that Harivansh ji has been chosen as the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha,” said Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu. Speaking on Harivansh’s election and his previous term, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Harivanshji’s unbiased role in the Parliament strengthens our democracy.”

As many as 17 members of Parliament have tested positive for coronavirus as they took the mandatory Covid test before attending the Parliament monsoon session that commenced on Monday, news agency ANI reported.

In Loksabha, BJP member Ravi Kishan raised the issue of drug menace in Bollywood and asked the Government to take strict action against those involved in drug trafficking. After a considerable delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 18-day monsoon session in Lok Sabha kicked off on Monday at 9 am. Minutes later, it was adjourned for an hour over the demise of former president Pranab Mukherjee.

ALSO READ | Umar Khalid Arrested! Activists, Lawyers, Others Condemn Act; Call It 'Political Wich-Hunt' Against Former JNU Student

The first-of-its-kind Monsoon session saw members sporting masks while attending the proceedings.

As soon as the House assembled for the first time since the Coronavirus outbreak, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla paid glowing tributes to the departed leaders and security personnel who have laid down their lives while protecting the nation since March.

Birla also remembered "Corona warriors" like doctors, nurses, sanitation workers, police personnel and voluntary workers who died while fighting the pandemic. The speaker then adjourned the House for an hour, after about 20 minutes of business.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, DMK leader T R Baalu, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah and NCP leader Supriya Sule were among those who were present in the House.

19:16 PM (IST)  •  14 Sep 2020

Rajya Sabha Adjourned Rajya Sabha adjourned till 9 am tomorrow.

19:05 PM (IST)  •  14 Sep 2020

Rajya Sabha adopts motion against starred questions and introduction of 'private member business' in the house during this session, in view of COVID-19.

18:55 PM (IST)  •  14 Sep 2020

Grateful to all for considering me fit to give this responsibility: Harivansh on his re-election Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman
"I am grateful to all of you that you considered fit to give this important responsibility to a person who hails from a very ordinary family based in a village and who never went to an English-medium school," Harivansh after his re-election as Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman.

18:31 PM (IST)  •  14 Sep 2020

Manoj Jha in Rajya Sabha "This was not a matter between two individuals," says RJD MP Manoj Jha who contested against Harivansh for Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman post. "Ahmad Faraz says - Tu mohabbat se koi chaal to chal, haar jaane ka hausala hai mujhme," he adds.

17:41 PM (IST)  •  14 Sep 2020

PM Modi: 'Torchbearer of Democracy'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after the election of Harivansh Narayan Singh as the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, says - "Harivansh Ji has made efforts to ensure productivity and positivity are on the rise in Parliament. He is a torchbearer of democracy, hailing from Bihar, a land known for its democratic ethos. It is Bihar that has a close link with JP and Bapu’s Champaran Satyagraha."