Lok Sabha passes Finance Bill, is then adjourned indefinitely
ON HOLD Before adjourning proceedings sine die, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla emphasises need for social distancing to combat the virus
NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die after the passage of the Finance Bill on Monday, nearly two weeks ahead of schedule, in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
The government introduced two bills even as some Opposition members, including those from the Congress, wanted to know when the government would announce a financial package for sectors affected by the coronavirus outbreak, saying it was an “extraordinary situation”.
Budget Session was divided into two phases. The first phase began on January 31 and ended on Feb 11. The second phase, which commenced on March 2, was to conclude on April 3.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, various states have announced partial or complete lockdown and also there is increased focus on social distancing to curb the spread of the deadly virus which has infected over 400 people in the country.
Before adjourning the proceedings sine die, Speaker Om Birla emphasised the need for social distancing and work on efforts to tackle the pandemic.
The Finance Bill, 2020, was passed without any discussion.
The Bill gives effect to the financial proposals of the central government for fiscal 2020-21.
A decision to approve the Finance Bill without discussion was taken at the all-party meeting convened by the Speaker.
Congress leader in the House
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury wanted to know from the government about a financial package for various sectors that have been impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.
“It is an extraordinary situation,” he said.
Some Congress members clapped their hands for a few seconds when Chowdhury was speaking about the financial package.
DMK leader TR Baalu said there is an excruciatingly painful situation in the country due to the coronavirus outbreak and sought a financial package.
Earlier, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal said that considering the extraordinary situation, it was decided at the all-party meeting that the Finance Bill would be passed without any discussion.
Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy introduced two bills in the House -- the Rashtriya Raksha University Bill and the National Forensic Sciences University Bill.
Congress members protested against the introduction of the bills, saying they have not been given copies of the bills.
As soon as the proceedings began at 2 pm, the House paid tributes to the 17 security personnel who were killed in an encounter with Naxalites in Chhattisgarh on Saturday.
The House also commemorated the Martyrdom Day of freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, who were hanged on this day in 1931.
As a mark of respect, members observed a moment of silence.
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, some members were wearing face masks.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, among others, were present in the House.
Members from Trinamool Congress, NCP and YSR Congress, among others, were not present in the House in view of the coronavirus outbreak.
RAJYA SABHA TO BE ADJOURNED TOO
Rajya Sabha will be adjourned sine die after completion of the business listed for Monday in view of the coronavirus outbreak, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu announced in the House.
Soon after the House assembled for the day at 2 pm, Naidu said he had met leaders of various parties, including Leader of the House Thawarchand Gehlot and Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad.
During the meeting, it was agreed that the House would be adjourned ahead of schedule keeping in mind the serious situation.
Lok Sabha was also adjourned sine die after the passage of the Finance Bill 2020.
The Budget Session was scheduled to end on April 3.
Rajya Sabha paid tributes to the security personnel killed in an encounter with Naxals in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh last week. The House paid a tribute to them by observing silence.
The members also prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the attack.
The Upper House also commemorated the Martyrdom Day of freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru for their supreme sacrifice for the country on this day in 1931.
The members also expressed hope that India will collectively overcome the huge challenge posed by the coronavirus outbreak in the coming weeks.
Naidu said the panic outbreak of the dreaded coronavirus across the globe and the efforts being made to contain its spread is a major contemporary issue which the House needs to take note of.
“The efforts of the central and the state governments and the people of our country are particularly noteworthy,” he said.
The Chairman said March 22 was a “Super Sunday for our country” and the voluntary curfew observed by the people for 14 hours to contain the spread of this virus was “unprecedented and heartwarming”.
“The people of our country rose in unison to the call of national duty in this hour of crisis,” Naidu said.
Naidu observed that the extraordinary response of the people was a clear demonstration of the collective resolve of the nation to address this formidable challenge.
“It was also heartening that a sense of gratitude and appreciation for the doctors, nurses, media and all others in the forefront of the fight against the virus resonated across the country at 5 pm yesterday,” he said.
This House took note of the positive response to the janta curfew by thumping of benches.