"Through efforts to control the epidemic, India has limited its cases and deaths to 3,328 and 55 per million population, respectively, which is one of the lowest figures in the world when compared with similarly affected countries," Hu Bofeng, Global Times correspondent in India. Indian Health Minister Vadhan said at the Union Parliament session that opened on Tuesday. The total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in India had risen to 4,846,428 as of 8 am on the same day, with the daily increase of 90,000 cases again on the 13th, the health ministry said. Mandatory tests ahead of the meeting showed 25 lawmakers tested positive for the virus, NDTV reported on Tuesday.

The two houses of India's federal parliament, including the Rajya Sabha (upper house) and the Lok Sabha (lower house), held their annual regular session for 18 days from Tuesday. This is the first session of the Federal Parliament since it was adjourned due to the outbreak of COVID-19. NDTV reported on Tuesday that 56 people, including officials, media and members of parliament, had tested positive for the coronavirus RT-PCR in tests conducted at the parliament building as of Monday. Among them, 17 members of the Lok Sabha and eight members of the Rajya Sabha have been infected with COVID-19, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leading the list with 12. With 200 of the 785 members of parliament over the age of 65 and at least seven ministers and 24 lawmakers recovering from the virus, the outbreak has cast a shadow over the session, AFP said.

In addition, in order to prevent the cluster of infections, the parliament has canceled the regular plenary party meeting, the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha will take turns to hold meetings, and simplify the interaction of questions and other links, and the seats of lawmakers have been kept enough safe distance between each other, and plastic partitions have been placed. Opposition parties have expressed opposition to the cancellation of the live question-and-answer session, criticizing it as "strangling democracy".

According to the practice, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a brief public speech before the opening of parliament on the 14th. According to NDTV, Modi thanked lawmakers for attending the session and performing their duties despite the epidemic, and called on all parties to remain united and "show firm support for the soldiers guarding India's borders." "This is clearly an allusion to the Sino-Indian border standoff," the report said. He also stressed the need to remain vigilant and strictly observe the requirements of epidemic prevention and control until a novel coronavirus vaccine is available. India's opposition Congress party shrugged off Modi's remarks, suggesting all sides focus on the epidemic, the economy and China-related issues. Analysts believe that the Congress party hopes to target the recent weakness of the Modi government in power, that is, the ineffective epidemic prevention and control, the serious economic downturn, and the unfounded response to the confrontation.

Sources said that the Indian government is likely to make a statement on the Sino-Indian border standoff during the current session of parliament. "Hindustan Times" quoted Parliamentary Affairs Minister Joshi on the 14th as saying that the government may convene a meeting of leaders on the 15th to brief on the Sino-Indian border standoff and other issues, and is now ready to discuss this with various political factions.

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