COVID-19 fears reduce WB assembly monsoon session to a single day

monsoon session of West Bengal assembly will be held for only a day on September 9 due to ongoing pandemic, Speaker Biman Banerjee said on Tuesday.

It h been earlier decided that House will meet for a two-day session from Septembaer 9. But decision was changed during all-party meeting on Tuesday and house will w have a single day session, TMC sources said.

"We don't want people to stay in assembly for a long time. So it has been decided that house will be journed after obituary reference and placing of few reports," Banerjee said.

Leer of Opposition, Abdul Mannan criticised TMC government for t accepting proposals for bringing in resolution against "anti-people" policies of Centre.

"We wanted to bring in a resolution against National Education Policy and rise in prices of essentials. But our proposal was turned down by TMC. This only proves that TMC and BJP have a tacit understanding," he alleged.

re have been instances when resolutions have been passed without any discussions. But state government was amant on t bringing any resolution, Mannan said.

TMC denied charge and said resolution was t allowed as session will be held for just a day.

Several MLAs, house staff and journalists Tuesday underwent COVID-19 test in assembly premises as part of safety rms ahe of monsoon session, officials said.

state government h sent a proposal to speaker in August for convening a session eir from first or second week of September, according to sources.

"As per rms re cant be a gap of more than six months between two sessions of assembly. last session was journed in March this year. So by September you have to hold next session," a senior leer of Trinamool Congress said.

294-member state assembly was journed sine die on March 17 as state budget session was curtailed due to coronavirus pandemic.