Parliament Monsoon Session has witnessed a huge uproar over the ongoing Manipur violence, mainly on the issue of women being paraded naked. A video which is said to be dated May 4. More than 150 people have been killed so far and several thousand injured since ethnic clashes broke out between Meitei, which account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population, and Kuki communities in the northeastern state on May 3.
While the Opposition is demanding a detailed discussion on the issue, the Centre is content after Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned and called it a 'nation's shame.' The Opposition has been demanding a discussion under Rule 267, however, the Centre has agreed to discuss the matter under Rule 176.
What are these two rules?
Rule 267 gives special power to a Rajya Sabha member to suspend the pre-decided agenda of the House, with the approval of the Chairman. The Rajya Sabha Rule Book says, “Any member, may, with the consent of the Chairman, move that any rule may be suspended in its application to a motion related to the business listed before the Council of that day. If the motion is carried, the rule in question shall be suspended for the time being: provided further that this rule shall not apply where specific provision already exists for suspension of a rule under a particular chapter of the Rules”. Any discussion under Rule 267 can stop all other business including issues of national importance.
Why the Opposition is insisting on Rule 267?
No other form of discussion entails suspension of other business like Rule 267. If an issue is admitted under Rule 267, it signifies it’s the most important national issue of the day. Also, the government will have to respond to the matter by replying during the discussions under Rule 267.
What is the current controversy over Rule 267?
Opposition members have alleged that the Rajya Sabha chairman has consistently refused to allow any discussion under Rule 267 for a long time. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and his predecessor M Venkaiah Naidu has not didn’t allowed any admission under Rule 267 during his entire five years.
Rule 176
The Centre has been engaging in short-duration discussion or brief meet not exceeding two-and-a-half hours.
