The government on Monday asked the opposition to begin a debate on the issue of Manipur and crimes against women all over the country, saying it was ready for a discussion. Before the Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day at 2.30 pm, Union home minister Amit Shah spoke in the House offering a discussion immediately.
Speaking amid opposition sloganeering Shah said “I want to urge my respected opposition colleagues that several MPs both from the ruling side and the opposition have sought a discussion on a very sensitive issue. I am prepared for a discussion in Parliament.”
“I do not know why the opposition does not want a debate to take place. I request the opposition leaders to let the discussion take place on this significant issue. It is very important that the truth of this sensitive issue goes out to the entire country.”
The house was soon thereafter adjourned for the day. Importantly union defence minister Rajnath Singh, who is deputy leader of Lok Sabha, on Sunday night had called up senior opposition leaders including Congress’ Mallikarjun Kharge and DMK’s TR Baalu asking for the debate to take place on Monday.
Kharge said Rajnath Singh spoke to him to discuss the logjam in the Parliament. “Kharge ji made it clear that Manipur Violence cannot be tolerated and PM should make a statement in the Parliament,” sources said.
Meanwhile, relentless protests from opposition members marred proceedings in both the Houses and Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Sing, one of the more vocal voices in Rajya Sabha, was suspended for the rest of the Monsoon session for repeatedly “violating” the directives of the Chair.
The suspension came after Leader of the House Piyush Goyal moved a motion in this regard and it was adopted by the House by voice vote. Before that, Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar named Singh for his “unruly behaviour” and cautioned him.
With protests ruling the day inside both Houses despite attempts by Dhankhar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to end the impasse, charge and countercharges flew thick and fast outside Parliament as the two sides targeted each other.
Since the session began on July 20, little work has been done in Parliament. Opposition members have seized on the viral video of two women stripped and paraded by a mob from another community in the violence-hit state to corner the government.
While the government has expressed its willingness to a debate on the situation in the BJP-ruled state, the opposition has made a statement from Modi a precondition for any discussion on the issue, accusing him of insulting Parliament by speaking to the media on the matter and not in either of the Houses.
