Functioning of Parliament goes in contradiction to PM's suggestions in view of coronavirus threat

The Congress on Tuesday said the functioning of Parliament is in contradiction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's suggestion of adhering to social distancing and closure of schools and colleges due to the threat of coronavirus in the country.

Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said coronavirus is a matter of national importance and it should not be a divisive political issue, and everyone should unite on it cutting across party lines.

However, he did not give a clear answer on whether he or his party has sought postponement of the Parliament session or made a suggestion to the government in this regard.

"Coronavirus is a matter of national importance, cutting across party lines. It should not be a divisive political issue. I think the government is trying its best, I am not at all criticizing the government...

"There is some degree of contradiction that the prime minister, on the one hand, clearly says that you should have social distancing, you should be working from home, you have closed schools, colleges. Courts, where I go everyday, at all three levels are functioning at 10-20 per cent, parties, get togethers, travel. On what principle basis can Parliament be exempted," he asked.

Singhvi said amid the threat of coronavirus, Parliament sees a gathering of around 2,000 people everyday.

"I don't think there should be one less day of functioning of Parliament, but, we have an in-built mechanism to make up, if you don't sit down, you can sit later. In fact, I am sharing with you that I have suggested to courts that they can cancel sittings for 1-1.5 months and sit right from May to July and forgo the summer vacations, which is my personal suggestion and not of the Congress.

"These calibrated, correct, nuanced approaches would be better for Parliament and in line with the prime minister's thinking. So, as in the other case you didn't listen to Jaitely, at least, listen to the prime minister," he said.

Asked whether he has written to the government in this regard, Singhvi said, "It is being talked about, I have said so now, I am not talking of closure. Closure is the wrong word, we are only calibrating and making up... This is not in my domain, it is with the medical experts from Government of India."