Parliament Monsoon session updates | Both Houses witness uproar over the Opposition’s demand to discuss Manipur issue

Amid Opposition protest, Upper House is adjourned till Friday

The Upper House resumes proceedings. Union Minster of Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur tables the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023. Opposition raises in protest, demands discussion on Manipur violence.

Proceedings in the Lower House have been adjourned till Friday morning amid loud sloganeering by Opposition members.

Amid chants by members demanding the Prime Minister’s presence in the House, Union Minister Prahlad Joshi says the government is ready to hold discussions on the Manipur violence in both the Houses but it is a very sensitive and human-centric issue. He asked members to stop sloganeering and let the house carry out the day’s business, adding the once the Manipur discussion is conducted in both Houses, the Home Minister will also give his reply.

Chair Kirit Somaya informs that House that the Lok Sabha Speaker has not approved any of the Suspension of Business notices submitted by members. Papers are currently being laid on the table.

On Thursday, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar reconstituted the panel of vice-chairpersons of the Upper House with half of them being women.

The Rajya Sabha rule book defines Rule 267 under “suspension of rules” as an instance where “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 and if the motion is carried, the rule in question shall be suspended for the time-being.”

The Opposition is insisting on a discussion on the Manipur situtation under Rule 267, while the Centre has cited Rule 176 to hold short duration discusisio.

The Upper House was adjourned till 2 p.m. over a clash between the Opposition and the Centre regarding a short-duration discussion and debate under Rule 267, on Manipur.

After the House resumed proceedings at 12 noon, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said the Chair had received 12 notices under Rule 176 for short-duration discussion. These included eight notices on the Manipur issue.

In response to the notices, the Centre said it was ready for a discussion.

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, however, demanded the Chair for a complete suspension of business till the issue of Manipur is discussed. The Opposition also said there can be no debate on the issue in the absence of the Prime Minister.

Soon after the House resumed proceedings, Union Minister informed the Chair that the government is ready for a discussion on the issue of Manipur violence in the Rajya Sabha.

The Opposition, however, demanded the Chair to suspend all business to hold a discussion on the Manipur issue.

Speaking on the Manipur issue, AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi claimed that the PM was compelled to react to the video after it became viral. “Genocide is going on there… Justice will prevail only when the [Manipur] CM is removed and the PM orders a CBI inquiry,” Mr. Owaisi told news agency ANI.

The House was adjourned moments after the Monsoon Session began on Thursday morning.

Rajya Sabha MP and former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi speaking on the Manipur incident outside Parliament after the Upper House was adjourned till noon.

Floor leaders & MPs of Bharat Rashtra Samithi in both houses of the parliament will raise the issue of Manipur violence. They are expected to urge the Union Government to act decisively, and demand that the perpetrators of the molestation incident be punished swiftly as per law

“We appeal to all parties cutting across the political spectrum to stand with the peace loving people of Manipur who deserve better from their Governments,” the party posted on Twitter.

Previously BRS working President K.T Rama Rao urged the Prime Minister and Home Minister to take action to save Manipur, referring in particular to a recent incident where Kuki women were subjected to sexual assault by a mob.

The Rajya Sabha maintains a minute of silence to honour sitting member Hardwar Dubey, and former members Dawa Lama, Usha Malhotra and Solipeta Ramchandra Reddy, who passed away recently.

To mark the memory of sitting member Hardwar Dubey, the House was adjourned till 12 p.m today.

The Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2 p.m. as a mark of respect to the Members of the House who passed away recently.

Sushil Kumar Rinku of the Aam Aadmi Party has taken oath as a Member of the Parliament in Lok Sabha.

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Proceedings have started in both Houses of Parliament. The session will be spread over 23 days with 17 sittings, and conclude on August 11. In Lok Sabha, Speaker Om Birla urged MPs for meaningful dialogue in the House on subjects of national and public importance.

The Rajya Sabha commences proceedings with the playing of the national anthem. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar is presiding.

The opposition has decided that a debate on Manipur followed by a reply from Prime Minister Narendra Modi has to be the first order of business in monsoon session. The opposition parties that have come together under the banner of INDIA met today for the first time to chalk out its strategy for the session: Sources

Ahead of the session, the PM assured people that the “guilty will not be spared and the law will act with its full might.” “What has happened to the daughters of Manipur can’t be forgiven,” PM Modi added ahead of the session.

PM Modi also spoke about the Manipur violence. He said, “The incident of Manipur has put 140 crore Indians to shame. I want to assure the people of India that the accused will not be spared.”

He further added, “Confident that MPs will fully utilise Monsoon Session in people’s interest.”

📸: PTI

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has urged the MPs of all parties for meaningful discussions in the House on issues of national and public interest.

Taking to Twitter, Birla said, “#MonsoonSession of Parliament begins today. Leaders and honourable members of all parties in the Lok Sabha are urged that there should be meaningful discussion in the House on subjects of national interest and public interest. Let us move the country on the path of progress by solving the difficulties of the common man through discussion.”

-The Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023

- The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Third Amendment) Bill, 2022

- The National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill, 2023

-The National Dental Commission Bill, 2023

-The Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill, 2022