Manipur: Parliament monsoon session: Opposition hardens stand on Manipur, stalemate may continue | India News

NEW DELHI: The first two days of the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament, which commenced on July 20, witnessed disruptions over ethnic violence in Manipur. The stalemate is likely to spill over to the next week due to the clash between a rigid stand adopted by the opposition and the refusal by the government to succumb to their demand.

A solution is unlikely for the continuing impasse as the opposition has hardened its stand over discussion in Parliament on the Manipur violence issue.
On the first day, the opposition MPs demanded discussion in the Rajya Sabha under Rule 267 which says, “Any member, may, with the consent of the chairman, move that any rule may be suspended in its application to a motion related to the business listed before the Council of that day and if the motion is carried, the rule in question shall be suspended for the time being: provided further that this rule shall not apply where specific provision already exists for suspension of a rule under a particular chapter of the Rules.”

Similar notices for adjournment of listed business under Rule 56 were submitted by opposition MPs in the Lok Sabha on July 20.
However, the presiding officers of both the Houses rejected the respective notices. Insisting on their notices, the opposition created ruckus forcing the early adjournment of both the Houses.
The same scene was witnessed on July 21, the second day of the monsoon session.
The opposition parties subsequently hardened their stand. They demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make a statement in both Houses of Parliament first to end the deadlock between them and the treasury benches.
The BJP levelled the charge that the government is ready for discussion on Manipur but it is the opposition which is running away from it.
TMC Rajya Sabha MP and spokesperson Derek O’Brien, in a tweet on July 22, said, “It is BJP that is stalling #Parliament. Let’s start the discussion on Manipur on Monday (July 24) morning at 11 am sharp. Let the PM decide where he wishes to OPEN THE DISCUSSION. His choice. Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha. Of course we will then all participate.”

Earlier he had also said there can be no other business in the Rajya Sabha till the matter submitted under Rule 267 is discussed. “We want a discussion on #Manipur. THE PRIME MINISTER HAS TO SPEAK FIRST.”
The Congress, which is leading the opposition, has also hardened its stand and has demanded PM Modi’s statement in both Houses of Parliament on Manipur followed by a discussion.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, in a tweet addressed to the prime minister on July 21, said the opposition expected him to make a statement inside Parliament. “@narendramodi ji, You did not make a statement inside Parliament yesterday. If you were angry then instead of making false equivalence with Congress-governed states, you could have first dismissed your chief minister (N Biren Singh) of Manipur. INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) expects you to make an elaborate statement in the Parliament today, not just on one incident, but on the 80-day violence that your government in the state and the Centre have presided upon, looking absolutely helpless and remorseless.”

Congress Rajya Sabha MP and general secretary in-charge of communications department Jairam Ramesh spelt out the reason behind the early adjournment of Parliament on July 21 was the absence of the PM’s statement inside both the Houses on that day.
“Today all the parties in INDIA demanded once more that the PM should make a statement on Manipur and the continuing tragedy since May 3, INSIDE both Houses, followed by a discussion. This was denied yet again and that’s the reason Rajya Sabha stands adjourned till 2:30 pm and Lok Sabha till Monday.

Meanwhile, MPs of several opposition parties have reportedly decided to hold a protest on Monday near Mahatma Gandhi‘s statue in the Parliament complex to press for the PM’s statement on the issue in both the Houses.
Though the government has agreed for a short-duration discussion on the Manipur issue with home minister Amit Shah replying to it, the opposition is adamant on its demand for the PM’s statement first.
It seems neither the opposition is ready to climb down from their stand nor the government is ready to yield to their pressure for the PM’s statement first in both the Houses followed by a discussion.
Until and unless a compromise is reached between the two sides and they agree to dilute their respective stands, a deadlock over Manipur is likely to continue in the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament.