Parliament LIVE updates: Face masks have been made compulsory for all the members during this session. (Express Photo by Renuka Puri)

Parliament Monsoon Session LIVE updates

On Wednesday, the third day of the Monsoon Session of the Parliament, which was held under the shadow of Covid-19, the Lok Sabha passed the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to bring cooperative banks under the supervision of the Reserve Bank of India, even as the government’s statement in Rajya Sabha denying any infiltration by China in the last six months came under Opposition criticism.

A host of other issues ranging from India-China ties to Sushant Singh case were also discussed in the lower house. Responding to a query on India’s bilateral ties with neighbouring countries, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said relations with countries like Nepal, China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Myanmar haven’t deteriorated.

Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda Bill, 2020. This paves the way for the establishment of a state-of-the-art Ayurvedic institution called the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA) at Jamnagar, Gujarat, and conferment of the status of Institution of National Importance (INI) to it, the Ministry of AYUSH said in a statement.

Earlier in the day, Congress leader Anand Sharma questioned Union health minister Harsh Vardhan’s claim that the lockdown prevented approximately 14 to 29 lakh COVID-19 cases and 37,000-78,000 deaths in the country and asked the government to explain the basis of the claim. “Yesterday, the health minister said that this decision (lockdown) prevented approximately 14 to 29 lakh COVID-19 cases & 37,000-78,000 deaths. The house must be informed what is the scientific basis on which we’ve reached this conclusion,” Sharma said in Rajya Sabha.

On Tuesday, the Lok Sabha passed the Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament (Amendment) Bill, 2020, to reduce for one year the salaries of MPs by 30 per cent “to meet the exigencies” arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic. Besides, the Lower House saw intense discussions a host of other issues, ranging from the drug probe in film industry to farm schemes. In Rajya Sabha, the Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020 was passed. The Bill seeks to improve India’s aviation safety ratings and provide statutory status to regulatory institutions, including the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Besides, the Upper House also saw Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan introducing ‘The Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda Bill, 2020, and making a statement on the Covid-19 situation in the country.