Parliament Monsoon Session: LS adjourned for day after passage of 2 bills amid protests over Manipur issue

The Lok Sabha adjourned for the day after the passage of two bills amid protests over the Manipur issue.

In a video message, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "You would be surprised why is the PM of the country not going to Manipur and speaking on it. It is because Narendra Modi is the PM of only a selected few, of RSS. He has nothing to do with Manipur. He knows that his ideology has set Manipur ablaze," he added. 

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and accused him of not speaking in Parliament and instead making political speeches in Rajasthan. Kharge said people have now become aware and will fight "this kind of politics". "Today, people have become aware and they will fight and continue to do so...This means you do not want to talk in Parliament - the temple of democracy, and want to give a political speech in Rajasthan while opening new medical colleges," he told reporters outside Parliament while attacking the prime minister for not speaking in Parliament on the Manipur violence.

The proceedings of both Houses have been adjourned till 2 pm amid continued sloganeering by the Opposition leaders.

Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha, Piyush Goyal made a remark on the black clothes worn by Opposition MPs soon after EAM Dr S Jaishankar's statement on the latest developments in India's Foreign Policy. Hitting out at the Opposition, he said, it is unfortunate that politics is being done even on such a serious matter. 

"This is a matter of India's honour, a matter of India's emerging image before the world...I think that the people who are wearing black clothes can't understand the increasing power of the country...Their present, past and future are black. But we hope there will be light in their life too...," Goyal added. 

NDA MPs were seen chanting "Modi, Modi" in Rajya Sabha as EAM Dr S Jaishankar made a statement on the latest developments in India's Foreign Policy. To counter this, INDIA alliance MPs chanted "INDIA, INDIA."

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged that the current situation in Manipur is result of "hatred spread by RSS and the vote bank politics of BJP." The government must be aware of everything. It can't be that the Agencies didn't know. They must be aware of whatever is happening there. If government saw all this happening, they should not remain in power...," he added. 

Union Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar raises to make a suo muto statement about foreign policy engagements after the budget session. However, the Opposition engaged in intense sloganeering as the External Affairs Minister started speaking in the House. 

The proceedings of the Lok Sabha have been adjourned till 2 pm and Opposition leaders continued to protest over the Manipur situation.

Janata Dal (United) issued a three-line whip to the party’s Rajya Sabha MPs, including Deputy Chairman House Harivansh, to support the party stand to vote against the bill to replace ordinance on control of services in Delhi when it is brought up in the House by the government in the monsoon session of Parliament. Deputy Chairman Harivansh has received a party whip for the first time during his entire tenure.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha filed a suspension of business notice in Parliament to discuss the breakdown of law and order in Manipur due to the "failure of central and state governments".

The proceedings of both Houses have started. Many Opposition leaders have come in black dresses to mark their protest over the Manipur incident. 

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi claimed that the Prime Minister is "rubbing salt to the wounds of the people of Manipur." "At a time when we are saying that he should go to Manipur and work in the interest of national security, he is giving speeches here. For the first time in India's history, we have a PM who is busy giving speeches when a corner of the country is burning...Our black clothes are against the arrogance of the PM. When the country is burning and Manipur is divided, he is bothered only about his own image," Gogoi added. 

Speaking on Opposition leaders wearing black to the Parliament to mark their protest on the Manipur crisis, Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said they (Opposition) can do whatever they want but it will not have any impact on the PM's popularity. "The opposition is not liking the work of development being done in the country," he added. 

Congress MP Rajeev Shukla said that the Opposition's protest will continue till the government agrees for a debate on Manipur. "We are black today because all the opposition parties decided to mark their protest on the issue of Manipur," he added.  

INDIA Opposition alliance leaders were seen wearing black today as they meet in Rajya Sabha LoP Mallikarjun Kharge's chamber in the Parliament

Congress MP Manish Tewari gives Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha, demanding to discuss border situation with China. Congress MP Manickam Tagore gives Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha, demanding to discuss Manipur situation. RJD MP Manoj Jha, DMK MP Tiruchi Siva, Congress MPs Imran Pratapgarhi & Syed Naseer Hussain and AAP MP Raghav Chadha give suspension of business notice in Rajya Sabha to discuss the Manipur situation. 

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh, who has been suspended from Rajya Sabha for the rest of the duration of the ongoing Monsoon Session, has contibued his sit-in protest on the fourth day outside the Parliament. Speaking on this, Congress MP Jebi Mather said, "Sanjay Singh & team INDIA has entered the fourth day of the sit-in protest outside the Parliament. This country & team INDIA has been demanding that the PM should come to the Parliament and make a statement on Manipur & there should also be a detailed discussion.  From July 20th we have been demanding but no discussion or PM making statements...We have witnessed several instances where those holding power have resigned to show their sense of accountability...In spite of Manipur burning for the past three months, there is not a single statement from the PM of our country in any of the Houses of Parliament. Govt does not allow a discussion in Parliament...Today, we are hoping that in the Lok Sabha, a no-confidence motion will be taken up..."

Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur set to move the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023 in the Rajya Sabha today for its consideration and passage to amend the Cinematograph Act, 1952.

RJD MP Manoj Jha said the Opposition has moved a No-Confidence Motion against the government in order to fix the accountability of the people of Manipur. The opposition has moved a no-confidence motion against the government. This no-confidence motion this time is also important because it is not because we do not like PM Modi but for the accountability of the people of Manipur...They have the legislative majority & but not the moral majority...If PM Modi speaks up maybe the situation in Manipur can improve...We only want that the Parliament should express collective shame...If Manipur is not given a sense that you belong to us, nothing could be more dangerous in the entire federal scheme of things," he added. 

Floor leaders of Opposition parties will meet the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, on Thursday in Parliament to chalk out their strategy for the No-Confidence Motion.