'No Question Hour' in Parliament Monsoon Session, the opposition leaders slammed the central government

The Opposition hit out at the government and accused it of reducing the Parliament to a notice board after notification by the Rajya Sabha Secretariat said there will be no Question Hour during the Monsoon Session.

“There will be no Question Hour during the Session. In view of the request of the Government owing to the prevailing extraordinary situation due to COVID-19, the Speaker has directed that no day be fixed for the transaction of Private Members’ Business during the Session,” the Lok Sabha Secretariat said in a notification.

Notably, the Monsoon session of Parliament is scheduled to begin from September 14 and conclude on October 1. 

The session will have Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha working in separate shifts and there will be special seating for MPs to ensure distancing. Lok Sabha will sit from 9 am to 1 pm on the first day and from 3 pm to 7 pm till October 1. Rajya Sabha will sit from 3 pm to 7 pm on the first day and 9 am to 1 pm for the rest of the days. Weekends will be working days.

The opposition leaders have slammed the BJP-led central government and accused it of stifling dissent and democracy after a notification said there will be no Question Hour during the Monsoon Session of the Parliament. 

Trinamool Congress’ Rajya Sabha member Derek O'Brien said that doing away with the Question Hour was like murdering democracy.

Also, private members' bills will not be taken up in the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament, while the Zero Hour will be restricted, notifications issued by Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha secretariats said.