Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to chair a virtual meeting of floor leaders of all parties to discuss the COVID-19 situation in the country, PTI reported on Monday.
The planned meeting comes amid a surge in COVID-19 cases in some parts of north India following Diwali festivities. Last week, Modi met with chief ministers of states that have seen a resurgence in COVID-19 cases. During the meeting, Modi had told the chief ministers to guard against complacency and improve RT-PCR tests and attempt to bring down the positivity rate.
Floor leaders of all parties from both houses of parliament have been called for the meeting, which will be held virtually on Friday at 10.30am, sources told PTI.
The Parliamentary Affairs Ministry is coordinating the meeting and has reached out to floor leaders of all parties, they said.
This will be the second all-party meeting called by the government to discuss the COVID-19 situation since the outbreak of the pandemic.
The top brass of the government including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah and Health Minister Harsh Vardhan are expected to attend the meeting.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi and minister of state Arjun Ram Meghwal will also attend the meeting.
The meeting is being held at a time when it is being contemplated to merge the winter session of parliament with the budget session in wake of rising COVID-19 cases in the national capital.
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The meeting also comes in the wake of Modi's tour of three pharmaceutical companies engaged in developing vaccines for COVID-19 last week.
Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan had repeatedly said in recent weeks that the government plans to vaccinate up to 30 crore people by mid-2021.
On Monday, ANI quoted Harsh Vardhan as saying, "In the first 3-4 months of next year, there is a possibility that we will be able to provide vaccine to the people of the country. By July-August, we have a plan to provide vaccines to around 25-30 crore people and we are preparing accordingly."
