Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu has urged members of Parliament to stand by people amid the pandemic and discuss all issues related to it in the House to address the concerns of the citizens. Chairing a meeting of leaders of various parties and groups in the Rajya Sabha, ahead of the Monsoon Session beginning from July 19, he also asked the leaders to ensure a smooth and productive session.

"A dysfunctional Parliament adds to the prevailing gloom and hence all sections of the House should ensure a smooth and productive session as it offers an opportunity to address the concerns of the people affected by Covid-19," he told the leaders. Noting that the second wave of Covid-19 infection sprang several surprises and severely tested India`s health infrastructure, Naidu said parliament is the right forum to get updated about various aspects of fighting the disease and benefit from ground-level experiences of members of the House from different states.