The Budget Session of Parliament began today with strict observance of restrictions for coronavirus and President Ram Nath Kovind addressed the members of both Houses seated in three locations.
He congratulated the Central government for its "timely decision" to implement lockdown as it "saved the lives of lakhs of citizens", and pointed out that the number of new coronavirus cases was going down rapidly in the country.
President Kovind, in his address to a joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament, also paid tribute to those who succumbed due to the virus.
"Joint sitting of Parliament amid Corona pandemic is essential. It's a new year, a new decade and we are also entering into the 75th year of independence. Today all MPs are present here with message and trust that however tough be the challenge neither we nor India will stop. In this fight against the pandemic, we lost many citizens. Former President Pranab Mukherjee passed away in this Corona period. Six MPs left us untimely due to COVID. I pay my tribute to all of them," he said.
"I am satisfied that the timely decision taken by my Government saved the lives of lakhs of citizens. Today the number of new COVID cases is going down rapidly. The number of recoveries is very high," he added.
Commenting upon the vaccination drive against COVID-19 which started on January 26, President Kovind said, "It is a matter of pride that India is running the biggest vaccination programme in the world. Both vaccines of this programme are made in India. In this crisis, India shouldered its responsibility towards mankind and provided lakhs of doses of vaccines to several nations."
"We have seen huge benefits of the work done by my government in the last 6 years in the health sector during this corona crisis,"
President said that the facilities of Ayushman Bharat Yojana can be availed in any of the 24,000 hospitals across the nation. "The poor are getting medicines at very low costs at 7000 centres across the country, under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana," he added.
The first part of the ongoing budget session will continue till February 15. The second part of the session will be held from March 8 to April 8.
Rajya Sabha will function from 9 am to 2 pm and Lok Sabha from 4 pm to 9 pm with Zero Hour and Question Hour.
Here are the Live updates from Parliament Budget Session 2021:
Rajya Sabha adjourned till 1st February 2021. pic.twitter.com/eUW4ceRxNS
- ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2021
Proceedings of the House begin in Rajya Sabha.#BudgetSession2021 pic.twitter.com/k9dHvAmYGB
- ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2021
Delhi: Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) MP Hanuman Beniwal showed a placard and raised slogans, demanding the repeal of the three farm laws, during the President's Address in the Parliament today.
- ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2021
(Source: Hanuman Beniwal) pic.twitter.com/bnsMH9byoT
Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind leaves from the Parliament House after his Address at the joint session of the Parliament concludes. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi also with him.#BudgetSession pic.twitter.com/m7CoX0hLjn
- ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2021
I appeal to opposition parties to not boycott President's address.#BudgetSession pic.twitter.com/RCisZ7q4MX
- Pralhad Joshi (@JoshiPralhad) January 29, 2021
Delhi: Security check being done at the Parliament, ahead of the commencement of the #Budget Session today. pic.twitter.com/wrQtjZtz4T
- ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2021
#BudgetSession of the Parliament commences today and the Union Budget will be presented on 1st February. This time, a Union Budget Mobile App has been launched to ensure easy access to Budget documents.
- Pralhad Joshi (@JoshiPralhad) January 29, 2021
Best wishes to Members of both the Houses for a fruitful session ahead. pic.twitter.com/5b4SF6GJZw
