New Delhi: Around 30 MPs and more than 50 employees of Parliament have tested positive for COVID-19, sources said on Monday, as the Lok Sabha met for the Monsoon Session under unusual circumstances triggered by the pandemic.
A number of reports, on the other hand, stated that around 25 MPs have tested positive, including 17 from the Lok Sabha and eight Rajya Sabha members.
COVID-19 protocols forced the members to be seated in different locations, including the Rajya Sabha chamber, in view of the physical distancing norms.
Before the House met at 9 am, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed confidence that Parliament will unitedly give a message that the country is standing firmly behind soldiers guarding India's borders.
In an apparent reference to the ongoing border row with China in Ladakh, Modi said Indian soldiers are bravely discharging their duties while standing guard in difficult hilly terrains with snowfall expected in the coming days and weeks.
Special podiums were placed for members, who were sitting in the galleries meant for visitors and VIPs, to speak as there is no mike facility there.
Benches which usually accommodate six members had a numbered plan for only three. The front seats of the Treasury benches on the right of the Speaker's podium were occupied by Prime Minister Narendra Modi sitting on a seat marked as number one, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on seat number 2 and Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on seat number 3.
Union Health minister Harsh Vardhan told the Lok Sabha: "The nationwide lockdown, a bold decision by the government, is testimony to the fact that India collectively stood up to manage Covid. It has been estimated that this decision prevented 14-29 lakh cases and 37,000 to 78,000 deaths," Vardhan said.
During the proceedings, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman sought Parliament's nod for additional spending of Rs 2.35 lakh crore, which includes a cash outgo of Rs 1.66 lakh crore, primarily to meet expenses for combating the COVID-19 pandemic.
The government also introduced three Bills on the farm sector with Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar asserting that they will help farmers get a remunerative price for their produce as well as private investments and technology.
The Centre also introduced The Farmers' Produce Trade And Commerce (Promotion And Facilitation) Bill, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, which will replace ordinances promulgated by the government earlier.
Another Bill which seeks to reduce for one year the salaries of MPs by 30 per cent "to meet the exigencies arising out of COVID-19 pandemic" was also introduced. It also seeks to replace an ordinance.
According to the New Delhi Municipal Corporation, 25 MPs have tested positive on the first day of Parliament's Monsoon Session.
The NDMC's Medical Services Department, in collaboration with the Health ministry's CGHS wing and the New Delhi district administration, has set up 17 COVID-19 testing facilities within Parliament premises. Both RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction) and rapid antigen are being done, Dr Anand Kumar Singh, nodal officer-in-charge, said.
"There are 17 teams from the NDMC and New Delhi district administration combined, and 10 additional teams, with each district in Delhi pooling in a team to provide manpower. Kits are being provided by New Delhi district medical services, that is the CDMO's office," he said.
"All safety precautions such as compulsory face masks, social distancing and regular usage of sanitisers are being maintained," Dr Singh added. With inputs from Chhavianshika Singh