New Delhi, September 14: A total of 25 lawmakers were reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 on day one of Parliament's resumption. The maximum among those found to have contracted the infection were from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Those strongly symptomatic would be shifted for medical care. Harsh Vardhan Gives Statement in Parliament on COVID-19 in Country, Says 'India Has Been Able to Limit Cases And Deaths Per Million'.
The samples of the parliamentarians were collected on Sunday, claimed reports, a day before the start of the Special Monsoon Session of Parliament. The COVID-19 test results declared today confirmed that 17 the Lok Sabha MPs and 8 of the Rajya Sabha lawmakers are infected with the lethal disease.
Update: Anant Hegde, Meenakshi Lekhi, Parvesh Verma Among Those Tested Positive
17 MPs, including Meenakshi Lekhi, Anant Kumar Hegde and Parvesh Sahib Singh, test positive for #COVID19. pic.twitter.com/sZjNbR7fCg
— ANI (@ANI) September 14, 2020
Among those Lok Sabha members found positive, 12 are from the BJP, two from the YRS Congress whose MPs represent seats from Andhra Pradesh, and one each from the Shiv Sena, DMK and RSP, reports said.
The BJP MPs who have tested positive includes Delhi lawmakers Meenakshi Lekhi and Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma. Ladakh MP Jamyal Namgyal and Uttara Kannada MP Ananth Kumar Hegde were also found to have contracted the virus.
The 18-day special session of Parliament began on Monday, with a list of crucial legislations lined up by the Narendra Modi government for passage. Ahead of the start of session, the Prime Minister told reporters that he hopes all political parties would speak out in one voice to maintain the high morale of Indian soldiers stationed at the border amid the tensions with China.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 14, 2020 03:21 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).