Modi govt allows 30-min Question hour in monsoon session after huge Opposition uproar

Faced with criticism for cancelling 'Question Hour', Centre on Thursday revised its decision allowing a 30-minute question hour in upcoming Parliament session. However, Centre stated that only unstarred questions will be taken. parliament's monsoon session will be held continuously from September 14 to October 1 - 18 sittings in total.

30-minute Question hour allowed

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Question hour cancelled & Opposition reaction

Earlier on Wednesday, Rajya Sabha Secretariat issued a tification stating that 're will be question hour and private members' business during monsoon session of Parliament'. In upcoming session, on day one (September 14), Lok Sabha will be held from 9 am to 1 pm while Rajya Sabha proceedings will be held from 3 pm to 7 pm. After September 14, Rajya Sabha will sit in first half from 9 am to 1 pm and Lok Sabha's processing is scheduled from 3 pm to 7 pm, as per ANI.

Reacting to Question hour cancellation, Trinamool, NCP, AIMIM and Congress slammed Centre calling its an attempt of BJP to 'murder democracy'. While Opposition claimed that decision was taken unilaterally by Centre, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Jodhi said that 'every party agreed to scrap question hour'. With most Opposition leaders urging Centre to rethink decision, Modi government seems to have relented by allowing a 30-minute Question hour.

Monsoon session of Parliament won't have question hour due to COVID; starts September 14

What is Question Hour?

Question Hour is one hour that Members of Parliament ask questions of ministers and hold m accountable for functioning of ir ministries. questions are usually framed in a way that it can gar information from ministry and hopefully lead to suitable action. With broadcasting of Question Hour since 1991, studies say that it has been most visible aspects of parliament in action. Most question hours have been used to expose financial irregularities and made government data on spending public, via pointed questions by MPs.

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COVID ready Parliament

MPs have been told to get mselves tested for COVID-19 at least 72 hours before start of Monsoon Session of Parliament. parliament has taken COVID-specific precautions like- four large display screens, 6 small screens in 4 galleries of House, audio consoles in galleries, ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, special cables connecting two Houses for transmission of audio-visual signals, polycarbonate sheet separating Official Gallery from chamber of House. With Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla insisting on full-physical sessions, both Rajya Sabha chamber and galleries and Lok Sabha chamber will be used for seating members during monsoon session.

TMC's Derek O'Brien slams ' Question Hour' decision in Parliament monsoon session