RS adjourns 2 weeks before schedule; Naidu urged MPs to work with people in fight against corona

The Rajya Sabha adjourned sine die Monday, nearly two weeks ahead of the schedule in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, after approving and returning the Finance Bill to Lok Sabha.

The Upper House passed 12 government bills during the session including six bills on Monday, while 17 Private Members' Bills were introduced.

Before adjourning the proceedings of the Upper House sine die, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu emphasised the need for social distancing by the MPs while they go to their constituencies to be available to the needs of the people in this hour of pandemic.

"All of you would appreciate the reasons for which this Budget session of Parliament is being adjourned sine die ahead of the schedule which is up to the third of next month. As against the total 31 sittings scheduled between January 31st to April 3rd, we are constrained to conclude after 23 sittings," Naidu said.

This Budget session is primarily meant for charting the right course of action for economic growth and development for the financial year 2020-21 through the Budget proposals made by the government and approved by the parliament, he said.

"Ironically, the global outbreak of coronavirus with its origins in China is set to play havoc with the global economic outlook with our country being no exception. The challenge before the world is to minimize the damage caused by the Corona outbreak both to the health and wealth of the people across the globe. Our country is a spirited partner in the collective global efforts to contain the spread of this deadly virus. I fondly hope that collectively this battle would be won," the Rajya Sabha Chairman said.

He stressed: "With the adjournment of the House ahead of the schedule, I expect all the members to work with the people in respective states in our fight against the coronavirus."
"This, in effect, means that the productivity of the House including both the parts of this Budget session has been at 76.13 per cent," he said, and stressed that members have "certain right to discuss and debate any issue in the House but not the right to disrupt the proceedings as claimed by some. Full and proper exercise of the right to discuss and debate would have resulted in 100 per cent productivity... I hope that we move forward in the right direction hereafter."