New Delhi, July 20 (Agency) Both the Houses of Parliament were adjourned till tomorrow, amid ruckus over the issue of Manipur violence. In the Lok Sabha, when the house reassembled after the first adjournment at 2 PM, the Presiding Officer disallowed the adjournment notices moved by members of different political parties on various issues, including violence in Manipur. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said, “the government has already clarified that it is ready for discussion on Manipur violence. Terming it a sensitive issue, he said, “Home Minister Amit Shah will reply on it”. Joshi also sought the cooperation of all the political parties to ensure smooth functioning of the House as several important legislations are scheduled to be taken up during the session. During the proceedings, the Members from Congress, DMK, JD(U) and others trooped into the well of the House, raising slogans.
The presiding officer urged the protesting members to allow the House to function but they continued with their sloganeering. Later, the House was adjourned for the day. In the Rajya Sabha, when the House met after the second adjournment at 2 PM, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur introduced the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2023. Thereafter, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge raised the issue of violence in Manipur, demanding discussion under the rule 267. He said, the situation in Manipur is not normal and the atrocities on women are being reported. Members of Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, TMC, Left, Samajwadi Party, RJD, and others were on their feet demanding a discussion on the Manipur issue. Earlier, when Rajya Sabha met at 12 Noon after first adjournment, the Chairman mentioned the notices given by the members of different political parties on Manipur violence, the Balasore train accident, unemployment, and other issues have been disallowed. Derek O’Brien of TMC also raised similar demands.
The House witnessed sloganeering and counter-sloganeering from Opposition and Treasury bench members. Amid noisy scenes, the Upper House was adjourned till 2 PM. Talking to the media after the adjournment of the upper house till 2 PM Leader of the House Piyush Goyal, said, ” Despite the government being ready to debate on the issue they are making excuses to disrupt the proceedings of the parliament unnecessarily. “After seeing the Opposition’s attitude it becomes clear that they have made up their mind to not let the Parliament function”. The Opposition demanded suspension of all business to take up discussion on Manipur and demanded the presence of the PM in House. Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar mentioned that the notices given by the members of different political parties on Manipur violence under rule 176 for short-duration discussion. He said the time for the discussion will be decided after consultation with the Leader of the House. Whereas Mallikarjun Kharge insisted that discussion must be taken up under rule 267 by suspending all the business of the House. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said, “Deeply concerned about the fact that the PM was silent for so long. None of us could understand it…adding that “We are very glad that he broke his silence, now we would like him to approach the issue in Parliament to discuss it”. Criticizing the opposition over the issues, Pralhad Joshi said, “The entire opposition do not want the House to function and they are looking for new excuses. This is not right.”