Special Assembly session on Mar 13

New Delhi: The Delhi government on Wednesday decided to call a one-day special assembly session on the NRC-NPR issue and the coronavirus situation in the national capital on March 13, an official said.

The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, he said.

Legislators will discuss the proposed nationwide National Register of Citizens, the National Population Register and the coronavirus situation in the special session, the official added. The session is expected to be stormy as the ruling Aam Aadmi Party MLAs are likely to move a resolution against NRC and NPR.

BJP and AAP MLAs are also likely to corner each other on last month's communal riots in northeast Delhi which claimed at least 53 lives and injured over 200 people.

This is the first special session of the Delhi Assembly after the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP returned to power last month for the third consecutive term.

An AAP functionary said the lawmakers will also hold discussion on coronavirus situation and steps being taken by the government to deal with the contagious infection.

Meanwhile, MLA Dilip Kumar Pandey was appointed as Aam Aadmi Party's chief whip in the Delhi Assembly.

The assembly secretariat on Wednesday issued a notification, stating that Speaker Ram Niwas Goel recognised the Timarpur AAP MLA as the chief whip of the party with immediate effect.

"The Speaker has recognised Dilip Kumar Pandey, Member of the Legislative Assembly, as Chief Whip of the majority party in the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi with immediate effect..." the notification stated.

Earlier, the coronavirus outbreak in China has led to a delay in the repair of an escalator at the Vishwavidyalaya Metro station as spare parts could not be procured immediately, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said.

According to officials, the escalator repair requires spare parts from China.

"The essential spare which is manufactured in China is being arranged. However, this may take some time because of the prevailing situation due to coronavirus," the DMRC said.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday urged people to stay away from crowded places and advised them to avoid any physical contact amid the spread of coronavirus. Kejriwal urged people to avoid mass gatherings in the wake of coronavirus.