<p>At least 16 Rajya Sabha MPs, including former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and former Finance Minister P Chidambaram, have informed the Upper House that they will not be attending the Monsoon Session of the Parliament.</p>.<p>Of this, three will not be skipping the whole session but for some days.</p>.<p>On Wednesday, the House approved leave for 14 MPs while on Monday it had sanctioned leave for two MPs -- Trinamool Congress' Sukhendu Shekhar Roy and Subhashish Chakrabarty.</p>.<p>Singh, Chidambaram and Oscar Fernandes (Congress), Anmbumani Ramadoss (PMK), Manas Ranjan Bhunia (Trinamool), S D Gupta (AAP), Parimal Nathwani (independent), Roy and Chakrabarty are among the MPs who will be skipping the entire session.</p>.<p>Nominated MP Narendra Jadhav sought leave from September 15 to October 1 while AIADMK floor leader A Navaneethakrishnan will be absent between September 14 and 24. Banda Prakash (TRS) has sought leave between September 14 and 26.</p>.<p>All of them except Roy has sought leave on health grounds. In his letter seeking leave, Roy had cited the Covid-19 situation and the guidelines for phased re-opening on vulnerable persons, including those above 65 years who are advised not to venture out except for essential services.</p>.<p>On Monday, Naidu said, "Attending Parliament is an essential responsibility. But, if any particular member, because of health reasons, desires to be absent, and they have written to me, I am getting all of them positively approved because it is a human problem."</p>.<p>Around 10 Rajya Sabha MPs have also tested positive for Covid-19 in the past few days. (ENDS)</p>
<p>At least 16 Rajya Sabha MPs, including former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and former Finance Minister P Chidambaram, have informed the Upper House that they will not be attending the Monsoon Session of the Parliament.</p>.<p>Of this, three will not be skipping the whole session but for some days.</p>.<p>On Wednesday, the House approved leave for 14 MPs while on Monday it had sanctioned leave for two MPs -- Trinamool Congress' Sukhendu Shekhar Roy and Subhashish Chakrabarty.</p>.<p>Singh, Chidambaram and Oscar Fernandes (Congress), Anmbumani Ramadoss (PMK), Manas Ranjan Bhunia (Trinamool), S D Gupta (AAP), Parimal Nathwani (independent), Roy and Chakrabarty are among the MPs who will be skipping the entire session.</p>.<p>Nominated MP Narendra Jadhav sought leave from September 15 to October 1 while AIADMK floor leader A Navaneethakrishnan will be absent between September 14 and 24. Banda Prakash (TRS) has sought leave between September 14 and 26.</p>.<p>All of them except Roy has sought leave on health grounds. In his letter seeking leave, Roy had cited the Covid-19 situation and the guidelines for phased re-opening on vulnerable persons, including those above 65 years who are advised not to venture out except for essential services.</p>.<p>On Monday, Naidu said, "Attending Parliament is an essential responsibility. But, if any particular member, because of health reasons, desires to be absent, and they have written to me, I am getting all of them positively approved because it is a human problem."</p>.<p>Around 10 Rajya Sabha MPs have also tested positive for Covid-19 in the past few days. (ENDS)</p>
