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The standoff between the government and the Opposition in Parliament on violence in Manipur is likely to intensify as both the sides Sunday signalled they would not back down from their positions. Opposition MPs are gearing up to stage a joint protest on Monday.
Sources in the Opposition said so far the government had not reached out to them. While the government has said it is ready for a discussion, the Opposition has been insisting that a suo motu statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi should precede the discussion.
Government sources have indicated that Union Home Minister Amit Shah may make a statement on the situation and will reply to the discussion. Shah had chaired an all party meeting on Manipur on June 24. Sources in the Opposition camp said the parties would remain firm on their demand.
Asked whether there will be a washout of the proceedings on Monday as well, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh told The Indian Express, “Looks like … After all, this is the Monsoon Session.” The MPs of the Opposition parties will stage a protest — their first joint action this session — at the Gandhi statue on Monday at 10.30 am.
But some leaders in the Opposition camp wondered how long they could sustain the protests. “I don’t think the government will agree to our demand. They don’t want to run the House. They will say everyday that they are ready for a discussion but the Opposition is not allowing. The entire blame will fall on us,” a leader said.
“We raised a high stake demand. Now we cannot back down. We can’t now agree to a discussion without a statement by the Prime Minister … yes we all want a discussion but it is also a fact that the House is allowed to function because it is an election year and MPs want to raise issues regarding their constituencies and states. We will have to find a way out … blockading functioning of Parliament like this will also affect our image,” he said.
The government, on the other hand, reiterated it was ready for a discussion. On Sunday, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur appealed to the Opposition to join the discussion. Thakur also urged the Opposition not to politicise the issue of atrocities against women in Manipur. He said the government was keen on a discussion on the issue of atrocities on women, which are prevalent in states such as Rajasthan, Bihar, West Bengal and Manipur. “We wish that there should be a good discussion on this in the House, where all political parties will participate. Nobody should run away from the debate. It is my request to the opposition with folded hands, do not run away from the discussion.”
The government has lined up as many as 31 Bills for consideration and passage in this session. And among them are the contentious The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill to replace the ordinance on services in Delhi, The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, The Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill and The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill.
