Amidst protests from the Opposition regarding a distressing video of two Manipur women being paraded naked by a mob, Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed his willingness to engage in a discussion and questioned why the Opposition is not cooperating.
Since the monsoon session of Parliament commenced with a tumultuous start, due to the shocking video from the northeastern state, the Opposition has been demanding a discussion.
The central government has consistently stated its readiness to address the matter. Earlier, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated in Lok Sabha that the government is prepared to engage in a conversation about this sensitive issue.
During a brief address in Lok Sabha, Amit Shah appealed to Opposition leaders to permit a debate on the matter. He emphasised the importance of uncovering the truth behind the Manipur issue.
Following multiple adjournments of the House due to the Manipur situation, the Home Minister made these remarks.
When the House reconvened at 2:30pm, Shah acknowledged that MPs from both sides of the political spectrum desired a discussion on the issue.
However, the Opposition MPs continued their protest, leading Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to adjourn the proceedings for the day.
Several Opposition MPs moved adjournment notices to discuss the ongoing ethnic violence in the northeastern state. Over 100 lives have been lost in the past few months. The government agreed to address the matter, but chaos ensued due to a technicality.
The Opposition MPs insisted on discussing the issue under Rule 267, which would suspend all other business in the House. In the Rajya Sabha, 27 MPs submitted notices for a discussion under this rule.
However, the government was only willing to engage in a short duration discussion under Rule 176.
In response to the Opposition's allegations of sexual assault in Manipur, the ruling BJP countered by stating that the issue of atrocities against women should be discussed across all states, including those governed by the Opposition such as Rajasthan and West Bengal.
Comments ↓
An Appeal...
Dear Reader,
As you are no doubt aware, Swarajya is a media product that is directly dependent on support from its readers in the form of subscriptions. We do not have the muscle and backing of a large media conglomerate nor are we playing for the large advertisement sweep-stake.
Our business model is you and your subscription. And in challenging times like these, we need your support now more than ever.
We deliver over 10 - 15 high quality articles with expert insights and views. From 7AM in the morning to 10PM late night we operate to ensure you, the reader, get to see what is just right.
Becoming a Patron or a subscriber for as little as Rs 1200/year is the best way you can support our efforts.
