Even though the government was ready for a discussion on Manipur, the opposition disrupted Parliament proceedings and did now allow the debate to take place, the BJP charged on Thursday as it questioned the timing of the surfacing of a May 4 video of two women being paraded naked in the northeastern state.
The BJP said that a discussion on the situation in Manipur would have sent out a ”meaningful and positive” message to the people of the violence-hit state but the opposition parties did not let it happen because they felt that incidents of ”misbehavior” with women in Congress-ruled states as well as the violence during the West Bengal panchayat elections may also come up.
The BJP’s charge came after both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned for the day on the first day of Monsoon session amid slogan shouting and demands for a discussion on the situation in strife-torn Manipur.
Even outside Parliament, opposition parties, including the Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party and the Samajwadi Party, slammed the BJP government at the Centre over the ethnic violence in Manipur and the purported video of two women being paraded naked in the northeastern state on May 4, a day after ethnic violence erupted in the northeastern state.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament complex, Union minister and Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha Piyush Goyal said, ”The Congress and the rest of the opposition parties disrupted the House proceedings even though the government made it clear that it is ready for discussion.” ”It became clear from the attitude of the opposition that they came, making up their mind, that they will not allow the House to function,” he charged.
”They are worried because there were incidents of violence (during panchayat polls) in Bengal. Misbehaviour with women is happening in Congress-ruled states. Perhaps, they are running away from a discussion due to this,” he added.
Goyal said the government is ready for a discussion on Manipur.
”But it is unfortunate that Congress, TMC and the rest of the opposition parties are running away from it to perhaps hide themselves. They do not want to hold any discussion,” he added.
When Rajya Sabha was in session, Goyal said, the government had no objections and was ready for a discussion.
As the Rajya Sabha chairman allowed the notices for a short-duration discussion on Manipur, Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the House Mallikarjun Kharge raised objections and said all the business of the House be suspended first and their notices for a discussion on Manipur under Rule 267 be taken up.
Rule 267 of the Upper House of Parliament pertains to suspension of rules.
With inputs from News18
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