First day of monsoon session: 25 MPs test positive for COVID 19

Image Source:- DNA India

The monsoon session of the Indian parliament scheduled from 14th September to 1st October.

Looking at the pandemic with all the ups and downs Indian parliament begins with their monsoon session on Monday 14th September. On the very first day of the monsoon session, several senior leaders of different parties tested COVID 19 positive in their routine checkup before entering parliament. 

The MP's who got infected by the virus include Anant Kumar Hedge, Parvesh Sahib Singh, Rita Bahuguna Joshi, Deependra Singh Hooda, Naranbhai J Rathwa, Ashok Gasti, Hanuman Beniwal, Goddeti Madhavi, Pratab Rao Jadhav, Bidyut Baran, and several other members from both the houses. 

BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi who also got infected later tweeted "After the routine Parliamentary test for COVID & genome test it's confirmed that I have tested positive for the virus. I am currently in good health and spirit.  I request everyone who has been in contact with me to get tested. Together we will fight and defeat Corona." 

In total 25 members of parliament tests positive to the virus which includes 17 members from Lok Sabha and 7 members from Rajya Sabha. In the tally of corona positive members in Lok Sabha, BJP members are in more numbers with a total count of 12 MPs with 2 MPs of Congress and Shiv Sena and RLP 1 each of them. In Rajya Sabha 2-2 members of BJP and Congress and 1 member of each Aam Admi Party and Telangana Rashtra Samithi.

In total 200 members were present in the Lok Sabha Chamber and 30 Members were seated in the visitor gallery. The session was attended by more than 300+ members they all went through the RT-PCR test which is told to be the accurate way of testing COVID 19. 

The whole parliament was sanitized before the starting of the monsoon session. Many safety measures have been taken for the safety of MPs while maintaining all the protocols to ensure social distancing. Many other safety measures have been taken such as sitting arrangements, plastic glass is been installed, no use of pen and paper, and for the very first time all the members registered their attendance through the app.  

The regular RT-PCR testing of MP's will continue until next week, the official said.