New Delhi: India's parliamentary session might begin from mid-July. A report confirmed that the Parliamentary committee meetings in India will begin on June 16, 2021.
“The details are still being worked out but we are hopeful of holding a normal session. We are expecting a regular session to take place,” said Parliamentary Affairs minister Prahlad Joshi to CNN-News18.
A list of issues is to be discussed in the parliament that is pending. The deadlock surrounding the farm laws also has to be broken as lakhs of farmers are still protesting against the new three laws. Public Accounts Committee, chaired by Leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Chaudhary will host the first meeting, it is learned.
Earlier, Citing technicalities and confidentiality clauses, Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla have refused to allow parliamentary committees to function virtually because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Rejecting calls from the opposition as well as some parties supporting the Centre, the duo suggested that physical meetings can take place once the situation returns to normal, adding it will otherwise take for an amendment in the rules.
Keeping in mind the current situation of Covid-19, testing, keeping visitors out, and limiting staff entry into the premises will be some norms that would be followed.
News agency ANI also reported that there won't be virtual session of the parliament. "There is no provision of virtual parliamentary standing committee meeting. It was declined by both the secretariats when few members asked to convene these meetings. These meetings are confidential and there are chances of leaking the video of these meetings," added the ANI source.