July 25, 2023
In an unprecedented move, a group of opposition MPs from the newly formed grouping ‘INDIA’ staged a silent protest late into the night in front of Mahatma Gandhi’s statue at Parliament House. The protest comes in response to the disruption of the monsoon session for the third consecutive day, with the opposition demanding a comprehensive statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur.
Holding ‘INDIA for Manipur’ placards, members of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress were at the forefront of this night protest, seeking attention to the pressing issue of the Manipur crisis. The unrest in the northeastern state has continued unabated for over two months, prompting the opposition to push for a dedicated discussion on the matter within both houses of Parliament.
The Congress, in a statement, attributed the non-functioning of the parliament for the past three days to the government’s refusal to accept the opposition’s demand for a comprehensive statement from PM Modi. Several opposition MPs had put forward notices for an adjournment motion to facilitate discussions on the situation in Manipur.
The opposition’s key request is to allow a debate on the matter without any time restrictions, providing an opportunity for all parties to express their viewpoints. Their determination to bring the Manipur crisis to the forefront has been evident since the commencement of the monsoon session last Thursday.
Conversely, the government accused the opposition of evading the important debate and questioned their commitment to addressing the issue. The opposition leaders, in turn, countered this accusation, asserting that the government was equally evasive about engaging in a discussion.
Mallikarjun Kharge, the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, accused the government of being insensitive to the crisis in Manipur. He stressed that the opposition’s demand was for PM Modi to personally address the matter in the parliament, opening the floor for a constructive debate. BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi raised concerns about the opposition’s “silence” on other instances of violence against women in various states, further adding to the contentious atmosphere.
Union Minister Prahlad Singh Patel urged the opposition not to make excuses, citing that the Prime Minister had already made a sensitive and firm statement regarding the Manipur issue before the start of the monsoon session. Patel argued that it was incorrect to suggest that the government had avoided discussions on the matter.
The night protest by opposition MPs reflects the gravity of the Manipur crisis and the intensity with which they are pushing for parliamentary attention. However, with both sides trading accusations and showing little signs of compromise, the standoff continues.
As the opposition MPs continue their silent protest into the night, the nation waits with bated breath to see if a resolution can be reached, allowing for a comprehensive discussion on the ethnic violence in Manipur and a path forward towards peace and stability in the region.
