July 31, 2023
New Delhi
The monsoon session of the Indian Parliament witnessed continued protests from the opposition parties demanding a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the ongoing violence in Manipur. As the session resumed on Monday, the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha faced disruptions as opposition MPs insisted on the PM’s presence in the house for a discussion on Manipur under Rule 267.
Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Jagdeep Dhankar, acknowledged receiving 65 notices under Rule 267 from opposition members requesting a discussion on the Manipur issue. However, the proceedings could not proceed as the opposition persisted in their demand for PM Modi’s attendance.
Despite the government’s assurance that a discussion on Manipur would take place at 2 pm, opposition members raised slogans and disrupted legislative business in both houses. Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha, Piyush Goyal, accused the opposition of blocking parliamentary processes and misusing the liberties provided to MPs. He emphasized the government’s readiness for a discussion on Manipur under Rule 176 and urged the opposition to let the proceedings begin.
In response, opposition MPs continued to raise slogans, demanding the Prime Minister’s presence and a statement on the situation in Manipur. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi challenged the opposition’s seriousness about the discussion and asked them to clarify their stance to the country.
The opposition parties have consistently maintained their demand for a discussion under Rule 267, while the government has only agreed to a short-term discussion under Rule 127. This deadlock has led to the disruption of parliamentary proceedings for the past nine days.
Congress chief and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, reaffirmed the opposition’s position, expressing the need for a discussion on Manipur under Rule 267. The issue of Manipur has been a critical concern as the state grapples with ethnic violence, leading to the displacement of thousands of people and the destruction of numerous properties.
The India Alliance, comprising various political parties, recently visited Manipur and brought attention to the dire conditions in the relief camps. They accused both the Union and state governments, led by the BJP, of failing to protect the lives and properties of the people in the affected region.
As the situation in Manipur remains tense, the opposition’s demand for the Prime Minister’s presence and a thorough discussion on the matter continues to be a central point of contention in the Parliament. With the deadlock persisting, the functioning of the legislative body remains uncertain, and the country awaits a resolution to address the pressing issues in Manipur.
