The Lower House of the Parliament, Lok Sabha, on Monday, passed the Finance Bill by voice vote without any discussion.
New Delhi| Lok Sabha on Monday passed the Finance Bill 2020 with amendments as political parties agreed to clear the central government’s financial and tax proposals for the financial year 2021 without a discussion.
Opposition parties insisted finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announce the government’s response to their demand for a financial package to deal with the coronavirus impact on businesses and livelihoods.
Some opposition members interrupted the voting on specific amendments to the Bill proposed by Sitharaman to insist that a package be announced before the Bill is cleared. Speaker Om Birla told members that he had met floor leaders earlier in the day to thrash out an agreement on clearing the Bill without delay. “I have met leaders of the floor. All leaders, keeping in mind the country’s current situation, has agreed to pass the Finance Bill without discussion,” the Speaker told the House. The Bill was passed by voice vote.
The Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die on Monday after the passage of the Finance Bill, 2020 without any debate due to the situation arising out of the Coronavirus pandemic. The House was scheduled to adjourn on April 3.
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The decision was taken before the House convened at 2 p.m. (later than the usual time of 11 a.m. due to flight disruptions delaying the arrival of MPs to Delhi) after a meeting was held by Speaker Om Birla with floor leaders of various parties.
As Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented amendments to the Bill for passing, Congress legislative party leader Adhir Ranjan Choudhary said the Opposition was ready to pass the Finance Bill but wanted an announcement from Ms Sitharaman of a financial package that would help mitigate the economic hardships engendered by the pandemic. DMK member T.R. Baalu also made the demand.
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