Monsoon session of Gujarat Assembly from Monday; no Question Hour

There will be no Question Hour during the five-day monsoon session of the Gujarat Assembly session which will begin from Monday under the shadow of Covid-19 pandemic, a state minister said on Sunday.

Nearly 20 bills will be taken up for discussion during the session which will be conducted while adhering to all Covid-19 prevention protocols, he said.

Seating arrangements will be made while following the social distancing norms and no visitors will be allowed in the premises, a release from the state Assembly earlier said.

Covid-19 tests were conducted on Speaker Rajendra Trivedi and 505 staff members of the Assembly over the past couple of days, and five were found to be infected, it said.

"During the business advisory committee meeting last week, it was decided that there will be no Question Hour. Legislators can raise important current issues through short call notice," state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pradeepsinh Jadeja said.

On the first day of the Assembly session, the government will present its report on the work done to fight the Covid-19 pandemic in the state, he said.

Nearly 20 bills will be introduced during the five- day session, he said.

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"Normally, the monsoon session of the Gujarat Assembly is held for two-three days. But this time, as the government has to get approval for 20 bills and give updates regarding the work done to fight coronavirus, the session will go on for five days," Jadeja said.

Speaker Rajendra Trivedi has decided to take special measures to hold the Assembly session during the time of the pandemic.

"All MLAs and ministers will be tested and only those who are found negative for coronavirus will be allowed to attend the proceedings. There will be segregated seating arrangements for MLAs," the Assembly release said.

Visitors will not be allowed entry into the Assembly premises to view the House proceedings, it said.

Journalists covering the daily proceedings will also have to get themselves tested before entering the premises, it added.