Parliament Monsoon session: Opposition tough on Manipur, issues Suspension of Business notice

With the monsoon session of Parliament continuously facing disruptions over Manipur situation, the leaders of several opposition parties issued the Suspension of Business Notice under Rule 267 in Rajya Sabha today.

The notice has been issued asking for a discussion on the persistent failure of the Manipur government to resolve the ongoing crisis in the state. The MPs from Congress and other parties including AAP have moved the Suspension of Business notice. It is to be noted here that the monsoon session has been facing issues since it began.

Apart from Congress’ Manickam Tagore, and Manish Tewari and AAP’s Raghav Chadha, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Kumar Jha, Communist Party of India (CPI) MP Binoy Viswam, DMK MP Tiruchi Siva, Aam Aadmi Party MPs Sanjay Singh moved the notice.

AAP MP Raghav Chadha said, “The country demands that the Govt and PM Modi should speak on the issue of Manipur. It is the responsibility of the Central govt to restore peace in the country. Today we are going to protest against this issue in the Parliament. Rajya Sabha Chairman should allow us to discuss on the Manipur issue.”

Congress MP Manish Tewari said, “The law must take its own course but there is a distinction between what is going on in Manipur and what has happened in other parts of the country…For the past 77-78 days there has been continuing, unabated violence. The state has virtually collapsed in Manipur, there is a complete ethnic divide in the state. So anyone who tries to compare the very grave situation in Manipur with anything which may be happening in other parts of the country is for lack of a better word, either completely ill-informed or totally childish in his approach to sensitive issues. Manipur deserves the highest consideration of both Parliament and Members of Parliament…”

According to the sources, the government has agreed to hold a short discussion on situation going on in Manipur, but the opposition is firm on its demand for the prime minister’s statement first.

Atrocities against women in any state are heart-wrenching”: Anurag Thakur

Meanwhile, Union Minister Anurag Thakur, referring to the recent incidents in Manipur said that atrocities against women in any state are heart-wrenching and the state should take charge of them. While talking to the media persons, Thakur said, “Atrocities against women in any state are heart-wrenching. It is the state’s responsibility to take charge and reduce crime against women.” He also requested the opposition to not run away from the discussions and politicise such sensitive issues. “I would request the opposition not to run away from discussions. The opposition should not politicise such sensitive issues,” he said.

Taking a jibe at former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, Thakur said that “He was the Chief Minister then, till today no one could give an answer to the brutal killing of saints and saints in Palghar. He was not even ready for discussion.”

It is to be noted here that the recent video from Manipur has initiated an outrage the country, where two tribal women being stripped naked, tortured and beaten up came to light, which has triggered a war of words between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition parties in the nation.