<p>Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die on Monday after passing the Finance Bill without a discussion and amid demands from the opposition for a special package to deal with the challenge posed by the COVID-19 outbreak.</p>.<p>While the opposition members demanded curtailment of the Budget Session, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla chaired a meeting of floor leaders Monday where it was agreed to pass the Finance Bill without any discussion, thus, completing the Budget exercise.</p>.<p>Lok Sabha members of Shiv Sena, Trinamool Congress and NCP have stayed away from Parliament to follow the call for lockdown in COVID-19 affected districts and call by experts to maintain social distancing to break the chain of transmission of the disease.</p>.<p>“We demand that the government immediately announce a financial package to deal with the situation arising out of the COVID-19 outbreak,” Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, said as the Speaker took up the Finance Bill for passing.</p>.<p>DMK member T R Baalu also echoed Chowdhury’s demands, seeking intervention from Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was present in the Lok Sabha.</p>.<p>As COVID-19 began spreading across India, members cutting across party lines had been demanding curtailing of the Budget Session of Parliament that had resumed for the second part on March 2 and was scheduled to continue till April 3.</p>.<p>However, the government was keen on continuing the Session as per schedule but after taking due precautions to discourage crowding in Parliament, by shutting of the premises for visitors.</p>.<p>Last week, Parliament was in the grip of a scare after BJP member Dushyant Singh, who had come in contact with singer Kanika Kapoor who tested positive for Covid-19, mingled with fellow lawmakers and even attended a breakfast meeting with President Ram Nath Kovind.</p>.<p>Singh underwent Covid-19 tests which turned out to be negative, but has put himself in self-isolation. Besides Singh, Apna Dal member Anupriya Patel who also attended the breakfast meeting with the President along with Singh, went into self-isolation.</p>.<p>Two BJP members — V Muraleedharan and Suresh Prabhu also went into self isolation as a precautionary measure. While Prabhu placed himself under quarantine after a trip to Saudi Arabia, Muraleedharan had visited a hospital in Kerala treating Covid-19 patients. Both the BJP leaders have been tested negative for the COVID-19.</p>
<p>Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die on Monday after passing the Finance Bill without a discussion and amid demands from the opposition for a special package to deal with the challenge posed by the COVID-19 outbreak.</p>.<p>While the opposition members demanded curtailment of the Budget Session, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla chaired a meeting of floor leaders Monday where it was agreed to pass the Finance Bill without any discussion, thus, completing the Budget exercise.</p>.<p>Lok Sabha members of Shiv Sena, Trinamool Congress and NCP have stayed away from Parliament to follow the call for lockdown in COVID-19 affected districts and call by experts to maintain social distancing to break the chain of transmission of the disease.</p>.<p>“We demand that the government immediately announce a financial package to deal with the situation arising out of the COVID-19 outbreak,” Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, said as the Speaker took up the Finance Bill for passing.</p>.<p>DMK member T R Baalu also echoed Chowdhury’s demands, seeking intervention from Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was present in the Lok Sabha.</p>.<p>As COVID-19 began spreading across India, members cutting across party lines had been demanding curtailing of the Budget Session of Parliament that had resumed for the second part on March 2 and was scheduled to continue till April 3.</p>.<p>However, the government was keen on continuing the Session as per schedule but after taking due precautions to discourage crowding in Parliament, by shutting of the premises for visitors.</p>.<p>Last week, Parliament was in the grip of a scare after BJP member Dushyant Singh, who had come in contact with singer Kanika Kapoor who tested positive for Covid-19, mingled with fellow lawmakers and even attended a breakfast meeting with President Ram Nath Kovind.</p>.<p>Singh underwent Covid-19 tests which turned out to be negative, but has put himself in self-isolation. Besides Singh, Apna Dal member Anupriya Patel who also attended the breakfast meeting with the President along with Singh, went into self-isolation.</p>.<p>Two BJP members — V Muraleedharan and Suresh Prabhu also went into self isolation as a precautionary measure. While Prabhu placed himself under quarantine after a trip to Saudi Arabia, Muraleedharan had visited a hospital in Kerala treating Covid-19 patients. Both the BJP leaders have been tested negative for the COVID-19.</p>
