Parliament Monsoon Session: Ruckus in Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha continues over Manipur - AAP MP suspended

As unrelenting protest by the opposition over Manipur violence continued in Rajya Sabha for the third day, House Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday convened a meeting of floor leaders of all parties to seek their cooperation in the smooth functioning of proceedings. Leaders including Jairam Ramesh of Congress, K Keshava Rao of BRS, Sasmit Patra of BJD, Raghav Chadha of AAP, Leader of the House Piyush Goyal and Parliamentary AffairsMminister Pralhad Joshi attended the meeting.

The Congress on Monday said the Parliament did not function for a third day because of the "continued refusal" of the government to accept the Opposition alliance INDIA's demand for a "comprehensive statement" by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in both the Houses on the Manipur situation. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the opposition parties are only reflecting the sentiments of the people of Manipur and of the country. Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the day on Monday amid unrelenting protests by opposition members for a statement by Modi on the Manipur situation, even as Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured in the Lower House that the government will discuss the issue.

Taking a swipe at the opposition over the logjam in Parliament on the Manipur issue, senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Monday said "professional players of hit and run" approach do not want a debate in the two Houses on sensitive issues but only want commotion on the streets. The government has agreed to hold a short-duration discussion on the Manipur issue with the Home Minister replying to it, but the opposition is adamant on its demand for the prime minister's statement first.

Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said he was willing to hold discussion in Lok Sabha on the situation in Manipur and wondered why the opposition was not ready for it. Speaking briefly in Lok Sabha, he requested opposition leaders to allow debate, saying it was important for truth to come out before the country on the Manipur issue.

Proceedings of Lok Sabha have been adjourned till Tuesday 11 am amid continued ruckus over the Manipur issue. 

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the government is ready for the discussion over Manipur violence.  "I am ready for discussion on this in the House. I request the Opposition to let a discussion take place on this issue. It is important that the country gets to know the truth on this sensitive matter," he added. 

Speaking on Opposition demanding the PM's statement on the Manipur issue in Parliament, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said, "The PM is accountable to the Parliament... There is no parliamentary democracy in the world in which the Parliament doesn't have the chance to meet, question & hear from the PM. This is a bizarre position they have taken..."

The Proceedings of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have been adjourned till 2 pm amid Opposition's ruckus over the Manipur issue. 

BJP Rajya Sabha MP and party's national president JP Nadda reached Parliament to participate in the ongoing monsoon session. 

Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said that Opposition wanted a discussion on Manipur and the government agreed to it. "Now, what is their problem if the issue (atrocities against women) is discussed in totality? he asked. 

The proceedings of the Lok Sabha have been adjourned till 12 pm amid a ruckus by the Opposition over Manipur violence.

The proceedings of the Rajya Sabha have been adjourned till 12 pm as ruckus continues in the House over Manipur violence. 

Opposition MPs with placards 'INDIA for Manipur' and  'INDIA demand PM statement on Manipur' in Lok Sabha as the session gets underway. 

BJP Rajasthan MPs along with senior leaders held a protest in front of the Gandhi statue in New Delhi. The protest is against issues of rising atrocities and crime against women in the state.

RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha, and CPI MP Binoy Viswam gave Suspension of Business Notice under Rule 267 in Rajya Sabha, demanding to discuss the Manipur situation. Meanwhile, Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan has given a Suspension of  Business Notice in Rajya Sabha Under rule 267 and demand discussion on the persistent failure of both the Union and Manipur Government in resolving the issues and facilitating the peace process and grave matter of atrocities against women resulting from the ongoing violence in Manipur.  Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh has given a suspension of Business Notice in Rajya Sabha under rule 267 and demanded a discussion on the deteriorating situation in Manipur.

Demanding a discussion over the Manipur issue, Congress MP Manickam Tagore has given an adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha. Notably, tension mounted in the hills of Manipur after a May 4 video surfaced on Wednesday (July 19) showing two women from one of the warring communities in Manipur being paraded naked by a mob from the other side.

Congress Lok Sabha MP Manish Tewari has given an adjournment motion notice to discuss the "ethnic clashes taking place in Manipur." The proceedings of Parliament were stalled in the first two days of the ongoing session. 

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should speak on the Manipur situation in Parliament and the opposition should also be allowed to express its views on the matter. “The whole world is talking about Manipur. The PM has commented on the issue and used very strong words but he should say it in Parliament. After he speaks, he should listen to us (opposition) also. We hope that we will be allowed to talk on this issue in Parliament. Our aim is not to criticise but express our feelings about the situation,” Abdullah told the media. 

Union minister Anurag Thakur has appealed to the opposition parties "with folded hands" to join the debate on the issue of Manipur. He also urged the opposition not to politicise the issue of atrocities against women in the northeastern state.

The INDIA Opposition alliance wants Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make a comprehensive statement on Manipur in Parliament, after which a discussion would take place to express a collective sense of pain and desire for reconciliation, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said on Monday. "The 3rd day of the Monsoon session of Parliament begins today. INDIA's demand is straightforward. PM should make a comprehensive statement on the horrific post-May 3 developments in Manipur, after which a discussion would take place to express our collective sense of pain, anguish and desire for reconciliation," Ramesh tweeted.