Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha proceedings have been adjourned for the day amid slogan shouting by Opposition members over situation in Manipur. The Monsoon Session of the Parliament will resume tomorrow, July 21, at 11 am.
The Rajya Sabha earlier saw uproar over suspension notices served under rule 267 for a discussion on the crisis in Manipur.
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge rose to say that ‘Manipur is burning’, and urged PM Modi to address the House.
After an all-party meeting on Wednesday, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh had asserted that Opposition’s demand for a discussion on the situation in Manipur during the session is “non-negotiable.”
Jairam Ramesh said, “26 political parties in INDIA demanded suspension of all business today and discussion on Manipur issue. PM Modi should make a statement and on the basis of his statement, discussion should be done in both the Houses but our demand was ignored. We will keep raising this issue.”
Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury says, “When the Session begins, as per tradition, PM asks all the leaders about their well-being. So, he met Madam (Sonia Gandhi) too. She told the PM that we want a discussion on Manipur inside the House. I think PM had not anticipated such a question from her. So, he was taken aback and said, “Alright, I will see.” She insisted that the discussion be done. In a way, the Session began today with a demand by Madam herself, on behalf of Opposition.”
Meanwhile, ahead of the proceedings, Prime Minster Narendra Modi addressed the media outside the Parliament, and made remarks on the incident in Manipur, saying that it “brings shame to humanity”. He added, “what has happened to daughters of Manipur can never be forgiven, guilty will not be spared.”
Jairam Ramesh reacted: “After more than 1800 hours of an incomprehensible and unforgivable silence, the Prime Minister finally spoke on Manipur for a sum total of 30 seconds. After which, the PM tried to divert attention from the colossal governance failures and the humanitarian tragedy in Manipur by equating crimes against women in other states, especially those governed by the Opposition while ignoring atrocities on women in states like MP, UP and Gujarat.”
Ramesh went on to say: “Firstly, he completely sidestepped the issue of the ongoing ethnic conflict. He has made no appeal for peace, nor asked for the CM of Manipur to step down. While he has commented on this one video that has surfaced, this is only one example of the hundreds of incidents of barbaric violence in the state of Manipur. Secondly, the PM tried to equate systemic and ongoing violence in Manipur with cases of crimes against women in other states. The perpetrators of these crimes have been arrested in Congress-governed states within 24 hours. In Manipur, it took 15 days to register an FIR against unknown persons and today, 64 days later, for the CM of Manipur to claim that arrests have been made. There has been a complete and total collapse of law & order and administration in Manipur.”
