Cong demands virtual session of Parliament
New Delhi, June 25 (HS): Congress leadership on Thursday demanded a virtual session of Parliament to discuss the Indo-China face-off and other issues of national importance like Covid-19 pandemic situation in the country and the fuel price hike.
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said, “There should be a virtual session to discuss important issues. During the 1962 war, BJP leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee demanded a session and even led a protest on the issue and the then Prime Minister accepted that demand.”
Another Congress leader Manish Tiwari said, “It can be understood that you cannot possibly convene a full session of Parliament, though the Parliaments are meeting virtually around the world, Great Britain is an example. In Portugal the Parliament has met virtually, then, why can’t the Standing Committee of Defence , the Consultative Committee on Defence and the standing committee on Health meet.”
He said, “It is unfortunate. The presiding officers of both the Houses should have walked the extra mile in order to prevail upon the government to not try and subvert Parliament in this manner and escape parliamentary oversight.”
He further said, “It is extremely unfortunate and we say it with great regret that while you can have Russia, India, China trilateral summits virtually, while the G-20 and all party meet on China can be held virtually, this Government has walked the extra mile in order to hide behind rules, in order to escape parliamentary oversight. This is nothing short of emasculation of Parliament.”