Page 2 - Highlights: Govt introduces five bills in RS on first day of Monsoon session

The Lok Sabha on Monday saw opposition parties, led by the Congress, up in arms against the decision to do away with Question Hour and private members' business during the monsoon session.

The lower house adopted the motion to suspend Question Hour as the government maintained that it was not running away from any discussion and will reply to all questions raised by the opposition. Opposition members accused the government of stifling democracy.

Some members of the lower house attended the proceedings while being seated in the Rajya Sabha chamber as Parliament met for the first time during the coronavirus pandemic.

01:14 PM IST

Discussion begins over The National Commission for Homoeopathy Bill, 2020

Shripad Yesso Naik presented the Bill to provide for a medical education system that improves access to quality and affordable medical education, ensures

availability of adequate and high quality Homoeopathy medical professionals in all parts of the country. Congress MP Tharoor and MPs from Shiv Sena called for more research. The bill was passed.

01:03 PM IST

P Acharya of BJD says party will support NDA in RS Deputy Chairman election

Prasanna Acharya of Biju Janata Dal said that the party will support NDA candidate in Rajya Sabha deputy chairman post election.

Our party will support National Democratic Alliance's candidate Harivansh for the post of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman: Prasanna Acharya, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) pic.twitter.com/viMc5NY4cA
— ANI (@ANI) September 14, 2020

01:01 PM IST

Union minister Vardhan apprises lawmakers about Covid-19 situation

Union minister Harsh Vardhan told the MPs present about the death rate due to Covid-19 disease. He also said the death rate is 'one of the lowest in the world'.

With our endeavour to manage #COVID19, India has been able to limit its cases and deaths per million to 3,328 cases per million and 55 deaths per million population respectively, which is one of the lowest in the world as compared to similarly affected countries: Health Minister https://t.co/r5pGNyldug
— ANI (@ANI) September 14, 2020

11:57 AM IST

Lok Sabha MPs register their attendance using the 'Attendance Register' App

In a first-of-its-kind initiative, MPs register their attendance using the 'Attendance Register' App: Lok Sabha Secretariat

In a first-of-its-kind initiative, MPs register their attendance using the 'Attendance Register' App: Lok Sabha Secretariat pic.twitter.com/6RTzqdZFOk
— ANI (@ANI) September 14, 2020

11:01 AM IST

'Most parties agreed over removal of Question Hour': Rajnath Singh

Union defence minister Rajnath Singh requested parliamentarians to help the govt smoothly conduct the Parliament proceedings. There were some apprehensions regarding the removal of Question Hour and limiting Zero Hour to 30 mins to which the defence minister was referring to.

Leaders of most parties agreed over no Question Hour & Zero Hour for 30 minutes. We apprised you (Speaker) of it following which decision was taken by you. I appeal to all members of House to co-operate as Session is being held in extraordinary situation:Defence Min Rajnath Singh pic.twitter.com/gbCAPX1Obr
— ANI (@ANI) September 14, 2020

09:39 AM IST

MPs pay tribute to ex-President Pranab Mukherjee, others

Lok Sabha adjourned for an hour after MPs paid tribute to former President Pranab Mukherjee, legendary vocalist Pandit Jasraj, ex-Chhattisgarh CM Ajit Jogi, MP Governor Lalji Tandon, UP Ministers Kamal Rani, Chetan Chauhan and ex-union minister Rahguvansh Prasad Singh, among others.