17 MPs test positive for COVID-19 as Parliament session gets under way

Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, September 14

As many as 17 Lok Sabha MPs have tested COVID-19 positive in the mandatory screening tests they needed to undergo to participate in the Monsoon Session proceedings that started on Monday.

Of these 17, 12 are from the BJP, including senior leader Meenakshi Lekhi who publicly shared her status asking everyone who met her to get tested.

After the routine Parliament test for COVID & genome test it’s confirmed that I have tested positive for the virus. I am currently in good health & spirits. I request everyone who has been recently in contact with me to get tested. Together We will fight & defeat Corona🙏🏽

— Meenakashi Lekhi (@M_Lekhi) September 14, 2020

Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal also tested positive in the screening organised by Parliament Secretariat.

Beniwal, who represents RLP, a BJP ally, took to Twitter to share two reports of RTPCR tests conducted at a distance of one day — one in Jaipur and another in New Delhi on September 12.

मैंने लोकसभा परिसर में #Covid19 की जांच करवाई जो पॉजिटिव आई उसके बाद जयपुर स्थित SMS मेडिकल में जांच करवाई जो नेगेटिव आई,दोनों रिपोर्ट आपके साथ साझा कर रहा हूँ,आखिर किस रिपोर्ट को सही माना जाए ? pic.twitter.com/6NgU0jBdWE

— HANUMAN BENIWAL (@hanumanbeniwal) September 14, 2020

While the Jaipur report is negative, the New Delhi one is positive with Beniwal saying, “I don’t understand this. One of these two reports has to be wrong. God knows which one. People should judge.”

Among other Covid positive Lok Sabha MPs are two from Jagan Reddy-led YSRCP and one each from DMK and Shiv Sena.

Eight Rajya Sabha MPs are also learnt to have tested Covid positive.

Only Covid negative MPs have been allowed to attend Parliament proceedings.

The rest have been told to quarantine.

I have tested #Covid19 positive today. I am doing well & taking doctors advice.

Requesting all those who have come in close contact with me in the last few days to monitor their health and get tested in case of any symptoms.@JoshiPralhad @arjunrammeghwal @VMBJP @DilipGhoshBJP

— Dr. Sukanta Majumdar (@DrSukantaMajum1) September 13, 2020