PARLIAMENT DIARY

GOVT DECIDES TO DEFER DISCUSSION ON FINANCE BILL FOR YEAR 2020-21

The Finance Bill for the year 2020-21 was supposed to be taken up on Tuesday in the Lok Sabha. But late on Monday evening, the government had decided to defer the discussion on the Bill for the third week of Parliament. Those in the know of functioning of the government are of the view that if the Finance Bill had been taken up on Monday, a message might have gone outside that the Budget Session would be curtailed and it might impact the market, already in red for the last few days.

Speaker Om Birla telephoned the leaders of various parliamentary parties that the government wanted to pass the two bills in the Lok Sabha first and then the financial business would be taken up. Accordingly, the Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Aircraft Amendment and Medical Termination of Pregnancy Amendment Act Bill. Moreover, Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiha Naidu has fixed March 25 for the farewell of outgoing MPs. Therefore, the House cannot be adjourned sine die before these businesses get over. TMC MP Sougata Roy on Monday met the PM and requested him to adjourn the Session in view of the coronavirus outbreak.

ABSENCE OF MOS PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS CREATES CONFUSION

T he election of Committee on Public Undertaking was supposed to be held this week. Generally, MPs across political affiliations come to an understanding to elect the members through consensus. However, this time, more members of the ruling BJP have filed nominations for the post in COPU.

Some of the Opposition leaders wanted to ask MoS for parliamentary affairs V. Muraleedharan about it, but he had quarantined himself though he was tested negative for coronavirus. The MoS parliamentary affairs was given charge of building a consensus of the election of COPU. MPs are awaiting some response from the treasury benches.