West Bengal assembly speaker Biman Banerjee, on Thursday, declared there will not be any question hour due to “paucity of time” in the state’s two-day monsoon session.

The Speaker announced this a day after Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien said not having a Question Hour in Parliament was the worst onslaught on democracy, prompting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of alleging the state’s ruling party of showing double standards.

“The chairpersons of two houses of Parliament talk to all parties before deciding the schedule of a session. In Bengal, the session is being held only to abide by the norm (of having a session within six months). The government does not want to face questions on corruption or, its failure to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. It shows TMC’s double standards,” said Bengal BJP vice-resident Jay Prakash Majumdar.

The state’s assembly monsoon session is scheduled from September 9-10.

However, the speaker announced that the legislators, assembly staff, security personnel and journalists will have to go through the rapid antigen test before they are allowed to enter the assembly.

“The legislators will have to maintain distance and occupy specific seats earmarked for them. Elderly legislators will be seated in the main hall and younger members will be asked to sit in the galleries,” Banerjee said.