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Regular-article-logo Tuesday, 23 April 2024

Monsoon session begins amid pandemic caution

Benches, separated by plastic shields, numbered; seating plan for three instead of six

Our Bureau, Agencies New Delhi Published 14.09.20, 12:06 PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and others pay tribute to ex-President Pranab Mukherjee, legendary Indian classical vocalist Pandit Jasraj and others who passed away this year, during the opening day of Parliaments Monsoon Session on Monday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and others pay tribute to ex-President Pranab Mukherjee, legendary Indian classical vocalist Pandit Jasraj and others who passed away this year, during the opening day of Parliaments Monsoon Session on Monday. PTI

Separated by plastic shields installed in front of their benches, members of Lok Sabha attended the first day of the Monsoon session being held amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

While nearly 200 members were present in the Lok Sabha chamber, a little over 30 were seated in the visitors' gallery located above the main chamber.

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Parliament House ahead its monsoon session during Unlock 4, in New Delhi on Sunday.

Parliament House ahead its monsoon session during Unlock 4, in New Delhi on Sunday. PTI

A giant TV screen in the Lok Sabha chamber showed very few Lok Sabha members were occupying seats in the Rajya Sabha chamber, the other venue where LS MPs have been accommodated keeping in mind physical distancing norms.

Benches which usually accommodate six members had a numbered sitting plan for only three.

Glass-like plastic shields of varied sizes were installed in front of benches to protect members from coronavirus. The shield also covered part of the members' sides.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha during the opening day of Parliaments Monsoon Session on Monday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha during the opening day of Parliaments Monsoon Session on Monday. PTI

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.

The front seats of the Opposition benches were occupied by T R Baalu of the DMK and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury of the Congress.

Circles marked on the floor to help maintain social distance at Parliament House ahead of the Monsoon Session.

Circles marked on the floor to help maintain social distance at Parliament House ahead of the Monsoon Session. PTI

National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah was also present and was seated in the second row of opposition benches.

As soon as the prime minister entered the House, he was greeted with claps and "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" slogan.

Modi greeted members, including those from the Opposition, with folded hands.

Parliament House canteen employees wearing gloves, masks and face shields serve tea, in New Delhi on Sunday.

Parliament House canteen employees wearing gloves, masks and face shields serve tea, in New Delhi on Sunday. PTI

All members were wearing masks. Some were also seen wearing face shields, including Trinamool Congress leader Kalyan Banerjee.

The House met for neatly 20 minutes in the morning and was adjourned for an hour after paying tributes to former president Pranab Mukherjee, a sitting MP and 13 former members who died in the recent past.

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