The Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal have, for independent reasons, decided to not attend a presentation on Covid that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to make today to MPs of both the Houses.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi had on Saturday announced that PM Modi will hold such a session on the pandemic in the Parliament House Annexe.
The Congress today said a discussion on the matter must be held by MPs in the House first.
"If he (PM Modi) wants to give a presentation on Covid, he should give it in the Central Hall separately to MPs and Rajya Sabha members. MPs should be allowed to discuss Covid-related issues in their constituencies," said the Congress's Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha.
Mr Kharge insisted, however, that this wasn't a boycott.
The SAD, meanwhile, based its decision on the long-running farmers' protest over three pieces of Central legislation.
"Today Shiromani Akali Dal will boycott PM Modi's briefing on COVID-19. It will be attended only after he calls a meeting to discuss farm issues," said party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal.
Earlier, several opposition leaders had spoken against the idea of a presentation at a time when Parliament was in session.
Calling the move "highly irregular", CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury had said that any address or presentation that the government wants to make must be done inside Parliament.
Derek O'Brien of the Trinamool Congress had tweeted: "MPs do not want fancy PowerPoint presentations on COVID-19 from the PM or this government in some conference room. Parliament is in session. Come to the floor house of the House."
PM Modi Visits Guyana, Aims To Strengthen Cultural Ties, Energy Links India, Australia Launch Renewable Energy Partnership As PM Modi, Anthony Albanese Meet At G20 Summit, PM Modi Calls For Efforts Towards A More Sustainable Future AR Rahman, Wife Saira Announce Separation After 29 Years Of Marriage "Exposed": BJP Alleges Bitcoin Scam In Maharashtra Poll, Supriya Sule Reacts Emergency Landing, Fliers Stuck For 3 Days In Phuket; Air India Responds Uttarakhand Polls: 75% Booths Webcast, GPS Tracking For Election Vehicles All About Sean Duffy, Donald Trump's 2nd Cabinet Pick From Fox News Inside Trump's Cabinet: Appointments And Front-Runners Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.