The Monsoon session of the Indian parliament got off to a turbulent start as opposition leaders demanded a discussion on the crisis in Manipur. Amidst uproar and chants of ‘Manipur Manipur’, the Lok Sabha session was adjourned.
The opposition expressed concern over the worsening situation in Manipur and called for an urgent debate on the matter.
Reportedly, two women were paraded naked through fields of Manipur, one of them gang raped and groped in May, a day before “riots” began.
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However, the Union parliamentary affairs minister, Pralhad Joshi, insisted that the home minister should address the issue and provide a specific date for the discussion.
Joshi stated, "We have made it clear that we are ready for a discussion on Manipur in both Houses. Manipur is a sensitive issue. The Home Minister will provide detailed answers during the discussion. Let the Speaker decide the date for the debate."
Amidst the chaos and demand for immediate action, both the Lok Sabha (lower house of the parliament) and the Rajya Sabha (upper house of the parliament) were adjourned for the day.
Similarly, Rajya Sabha (upper house of the parliament) chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar was forced to adjourn the house for the day as opposition constant voiced about Manipur.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who is the leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha, said: "Manipur is burning. Women are raped, naked, paraded and the PM is keeping quiet inside parliament and giving statements outside".
Kharge was referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement on the viral video of two Kuki men being paraded naked in Manipur. The PM said the incident was shameful for any civilised society and assured that the guilty will not be spared.
The monsoon session is held in July to September every year after a break of two months of the budget session. In this session, matters of public interest are discussed in the parliament.
