H. Vasanthakumar, the Congress MP from Kanyakumari who died yesterday after contracting the coronavirus, had raised the COVID-19 issue in parliament in March, urging government to announce it a national disaster and also suggested few measures to tackle the crisis, but his mic was cut off even before he could finish.

In a video which has now turned viral, Vasanthakumar is seen speaking in parliament "Speaker sir, we have to announce a national disaster due to coronavirus affecting the whole nation. A zero-revenue situation will definitely impact the repayment of loans. I urge the government to reschedule the loan payment of small businessmen and individuals at least for three months.Daily wagers have been adversely affected. I urge upon the government to pay a minimum of Rs 2,000 per family" and following this, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla instructed another MP to speak. Even as Vasanthakumar requested another minute to speak, and was about to suggest waiver of GST, Birla asked Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy to talk and told Vasanthakumar to Mic bandh.

Following Vasanthakumar's death yesterday, this video has been widely shared on Twitter. The 70-year-old leader was admitted to a hospital in Chennai on August 10 after testing positive for the coronavirus and died after contracting severe pneumonia. Vasanthakumar is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.

On 20th March Kanyakumari MP #Vasanthakumar ji in his Lok Sabha speech kept demand of declaring #COVIDー19 as "National Disaster"..
He spoke also for direct benifit transfers to daily wagers & to help small businesses ..
He was interrupted with laugh within few secs..

RIP sir?? pic.twitter.com/L5ezM2b6l4

— Niraj Bhatia (@bhatia_niraj23) August 28, 2020