Govt agrees to discussion on Manipur, but Oppn wants it under Rule 267
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New Delhi: Protests continued to rock both Houses of Parliament on Monday as the Opposition demanded a discussion on the Manipur crisis, while the government wanted to table the contentious National Capital Territory (NCT) Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha.
The Rajya Sabha, in particular, witnessed noisy scenes as the Opposition pushed for a discussion under Rule 267, which allows MPs to give written notice to suspend all listed business and discuss a matter of national importance.
However, the Chair had not accepted any notice under Rule 267 in recent Parliament sessions, leading to tension and deadlock. The Opposition also brought a no-trust motion last week, seeking a statement from Prime Minister Modi on the Manipur issue, but the impasse continued.
Amidst the ongoing protests, BJP MP and Leader of the House, Piyush Goyal, addressed the Rajya Sabha and called for a discussion on the Manipur crisis at 2 pm. However, the Opposition was adamant about using Rule 267 for an immediate and detailed discussion.
TMC MP Derek O'Brien expressed his party's demand for a thorough discussion on the Manipur issue and questioned why the Prime Minister couldn't address it directly. He highlighted the seriousness of the situation and emphasized that they were ready to discuss the matter in Parliament.
Despite the ongoing uproar, Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha proceeded against the backdrop of protests over the Manipur crisis, with slogans of 'we want justice' echoing in the House.
The focus now shifted to the Speaker, who would decide on allotting a date and time for the discussion and vote on the no-trust motion. With Parliament unable to function effectively since July 20, resolving the stalemate became crucial.
Outside Parliament, Aam Aadmi Party leaders voiced their opposition to the NCT Amendment Bill, which was not listed under the legislative business of the day in the Lok Sabha. Sources suggested that the Bill would be tabled, but no discussion was planned for the day.
