INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament is likely to be cut short due to the prevailing Covid-19 situation and the fact that several MPs
have already tested positive for the viral disease.Sources said leaders from the Opposition and the government have held talks on this after
two ministers and one MP tested positive during the ongoing session.The Business Advisory Committee of the Lok Sabha is likely to meet today
Sources said the leaders are deliberating that the Monsoon Session should end by next week.Quoting unnamed sources, news agency PTI too said
floor leaders from different parties in the Lok Sabha are likely to meet today to discuss curtailment of the Monsoon Session of
Parliament.It added that sources say the government too is contemplating on curtailing the Monsoon Session in view of the rising Covid-19
However, nothing has been finalised yet.Overall, nearly 30 MPs, including senior ministers like Amit Shah and Nitin Gadkari, have tested
positive for Covid-19 so far, while at least two have died.The Parliament met for the first time in six months on September 14 and was to
function until October 1."Since the commencement of the session the number of positive cases have gone up so the government is thinking of
cutting short the session," Reuters reported quoting an unnamed top official in Parliament who is involved in the functioning of Parliament
proceedings.India, which recorded 93,337 new infections in the last 24 hours, has been posting the highest single-day caseload in the world
since early August.India currently is the second-most badly hit country after United States with total recorded coronavirus cases at 5.3
million.However, deaths in India have been relatively low.The virus has killed 1,247 people in last 24 hours, taking the total death toll to
85,619, government data showed on Saturday.(With inputs from agencies) | Migrant workers' deaths: Govt says it has no data
But didn't people die? Here is a list | 25 MPs test positive for coronavirus as Monsoon Session begins in Parliament | BJP Rajya Sabha
member Ashok Gasti dies due to coronavirus
