Lok Sabha Sessions probably to end on wednesday due to rise in covid 19 cases

New Delhi: Lok Sabha monsoon session will be reduced by several days, the government decided on Saturday after consulting with the opposition at the Business Advisory Committee meeting. The Centre is concerned for the safety of MPs after three of them - who had attended the session - tested positive for the coronavirus earlier this week, days after their mandatory test reports turned out negative.

The government had earlier held a discussion with the opposition as it had been trying to build a consensus. Many opposition parties were also in favour of winding up the session.

The session in Lok Sabha is probably to wrap up by Wednesday next week. Rajya Sabha, the upper House of parliament, is expected to follow suit.

Seventeen members of the Lok Sabha and eight members from the Rajya Sabha had tested positive for the coronavirus in the mandatory tests carried out before the monsoon session of parliament started. Among the infected Lok Sabha MPs, the BJP had the maximum number i.e. 12. The YSR Congress had two MPs, the Shiv Sena, DMK and RLP had one each.

Earlier this week, Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Prahlad Patel - who had tested negative before the session - were found positive for the coronavirus.

On Friday, BJP's Rajya Sabha member



Vinay Sahasrabuddhe tested positive for the virus. He had addressed the House earlier.

"Last Friday, I had got examined and was tested negative hence attended parliament. But last night, I had a headache and mild fever, got examined and have tested positive for COVID-19," Mr Sahasrabuddhe had tweeted.

The authorities in parliament have taken strict measures to prevent transmission of the coronavirus among the MPs but the government didn't want to take any chances, sources say.

Before ending the session, the government wants to clear 11 ordinances in parliament. So far, the Lok Sabha has passed only three bills linked to the agriculture sector. Both the Houses have cleared an ordinance to cut by 30 per cent the salaries of the members of parliament to save funds for the country's fight against the pandemic.