LS adjourned as Oppn wants PM to speak in House on Manipur, BJP brings up Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh

Accusing Modi of speaking up only now, for “36 seconds” after “1800 hours of what has been happening in Manipur”, the Opposition said he should make a statement in the House.

The Treasury Benches in the Lok Sabha accused the Opposition of being determined not to let the House function despite the assurance by the government of a debate, followed by a statement by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Thursday’s proceedings began with a rare gesture by the PM, who walked up to the Opposition benches and exchanged greetings with leaders there, including DMK leader T R Baalu and Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. Modi also exchanged a few words with Sonia.

Congress leaders later said that Modi asked Sonia about the aircraft carrying her and Rahul Gandhi having made an emergency landing in Bhopal, while they were on their way back from the Opposition unity meeting in Bengaluru. Sonia is learnt to have replied that they were fine, but that everyone was concerned about the women in Manipur, and that the House should have a debate on it.

“I think the 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 the Opposition…,” Chowdhury later said.

In his remarks marking the start of the Session, Modi hoped for fruitful House proceedings, spoke about the Bills to be brought, and then referred to the Manipur video. “Aaj jab main aap ke beech aaya hoon, is loktantra ke mandir ke paas khada hoon, tab mera hriday peedha se bhara hua hai, krodh se bhara hua hai. Manipur ki jo ghatna saamne aayee hai, kisee bhee sabhya samaaj ke liye sharmasaar karane vaalee ghatna hai (Today, when I am among you and I am standing near this temple of democracy, then my heart is full of pain, full of anger. The incident that has come to the fore in Manipur is a shameful incident for any civilized society).”

“The whole country has been insulted, and 140 crore countrymen are feeling ashamed… I want to assure the countrymen that no criminal will be spared… What has happened to the daughters of Manipur can never be forgiven,” Modi said.

He then added: “I appeal to all Chief Ministers to strengthen laws to take stringent action against crime, especially against women. The incident might be from Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh or Manipur, be it any state government, they should rise above politics.”

Several Opposition members have given notices seeking adjournment of proceedings in both Houses to discuss the Manipur issue. But the government is insistent on discussing the violence “under the rules”.

On Thursday, after the surfacing of the Manipur video, the Opposition in the Lok Sabha said the Session must start with a statement by the PM, and later raised slogans demanding the same. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said the government had already promised a discussion on Manipur, and the Union Home Minister would later give a statement on the situation. “There are important Bills to be passed, important issues to be discussed,” Joshi said.

With the Opposition not letting up, the Lower House was adjourned for the day after 2 pm.

Taking a cue from PM Modi’s remarks, in which he referred to alleged incidents against women in Congress-ruled states of Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, the BJP Leader in the Rajya Sabha, Piyush Goyal, also remarked about the two states apart from the Trinamool Congress-ruled West Bengal when confronted with the Opposition demand for a statement by Modi.

Goyal alleged that the Opposition was trying to avoid a discussion because of the recent West Bengal panchayat poll violence.

“After seeing the Opposition’s attitude in the BAC (Business Advisory Committee) and inside Parliament, it becomes clear that they have made up their mind to not let Parliament function… Even when the government made it clear that we are ready to discuss the Manipur incidents, the Congress and the other Opposition disrupted the House,” Goyal told reporters outside Parliament House.

“They must be disturbed over how violence took place in West Bengal and how unfortunate the situation for Nari Shakti is in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh,” he added.

Union Law Minister and MoS for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal too targeted the Rajasthan government, posting a series of tweets on “misgovernance” under Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. “Gehlot ji, how will the daughters, women, children, elderly and deprived sections be safe in the Chief Minister’s state… (when) the women MLAs of his party are not safe?” one of his tweets said.

BJP MPs said the Opposition should wait for the Central government’s moves in Manipur. “The Home Minister has spoken to Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh. This means that the Centre’s approach will be different in the coming days. The situation is very sensitive and the Opposition should let the Centre handle the issue,” said a senior party MP, while admitting that many in the party were waiting for a cue from the PM.

Tapir Gao, BJP MP from Arunachal Pradesh, told The Indian Express: “Now that the Prime Minister has spoken and condemned it, there will be strong action… We have agreed for a discussion in Parliament also.”