New Delhi: The government and opposition parties have decided to curtail the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament by late next week, sources present at a meeting of the Business Advisory Council on Saturday. The Lok Sabha Speaker to decide on whether the session can be curtailed given the rise in the number of Covid-19 cases in Parliament.

The opposition has reportedly been assured by Speaker OP Birla that a short duration discussion on GST will take place on one of the days next week during the Zero Hour. All other calling attention issues would be discussed on the last working day of the session. The Lok Sabha has so far passed three Bills to replace agriculture sector-related ordinances. Also, both Houses have cleared a bill to replace an ordinance for cutting by 30% the salaries of MPs to ramp up funds in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

At a meeting of the business advisory committee of the Lok Sabha, this has floor leaders of all parties besides government representatives and is chaired by Speaker Om Birla, most parties’ favoured curtailment of the session which had started on September 14 and was scheduled to conclude on October 1, 2020.

While the government sought cooperation of the opposition on business that has been pending, opposition parties asked for a discussion on key issues such as management of the Covid-19 pandemic, GST dues owed to states, environment policy, and the National Education Policy.