All-party meet on December 4 to discuss COVID-19

The government has called an all-party meeting on December 4 to discuss the the COVID-19 situation.

Senior sources in the government confirmed that floor leaders of all political parties in Parliament have been invited for the meeting by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi.

The meeting, to be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will be held via videoconference in the morning. Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan and Ministers of State V. Muraleedharan and Arjun Ram Meghwal are expected to be present at the meeting. Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba will also attend it.

While the monsoon session of Parliament was held earlier in the year, there has been talk of merging the winter and budget sessions looking at the expected surge of the pandemic during winter. It is expected that this too might be discussed. As for the format, leaders, at least many heading the parties with significant number of MPs, will be asked to speak, with Mr. Modi making the closing remarks.

Also read: PM Modi has virtual conference with COVID-19 vaccine companies

Mr. Modi is also expected to brief party leaders on his meetings with officials of the six vaccine development and manufacturing facilities that he reviewed over this week.

This is the second all-party meet being called by the government on the pandemic so far, the first being in April last during the nationwide lockdown.