"The Opposition makes some or the other excuses to avoid discussions and disrupt parliamentary proceedings. Some are no longer a part of the parliament house so, they don't want the Parliament to further proceed... Why is opposition running away from parliamentary discussions? Is it because their politicians are no longer serving the parliament? or are they trying to avoid discussion on the loopholes of their government?" said Union Minister Anurag Thakur. (ANI)
"The opposition keeps looking for excuses to not let the House function. Why is the opposition running way from discussion? Is it because their own leaders are no more members of the Parliament?" says Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Opposition cornering government in Parliament over Manipur issue.
"It is a serious issue that Manipur violence is being discussed at international forums but not in our Parliament... Why don't you talk about Manipur's law and order?...In the Nirbhaya case, BJP had shaken the then government when they were in opposition but, now two women have been paraded naked and they are shedding crocodile tears," says Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut.
Amid the uproar in Lok Sabha over the Manipur situation, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had said, "Manipur incident is definitely very serious and understanding the situation, PM himself has said that what happened in Manipur has put the entire nation to shame. PM has said that strictest action will be taken over the incident. We do want a discussion in Parliament over Manipur. I had said this in the All Party Meeting and I reiterate this in the Parliament that we want a discussion in the House over Manipur. But I see that there are a few political parties that unnecessarily want to create a situation here so that the discussion on Manipur can't take place. I am clearly levelling allegations that this Opposition is not serious over Manipur as they should have been..."
Union Minister of State for Parliamentary affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal says he wants to appeal to the Opposition to not change their stand repeatedly and not indulge into politics over Manipur as it is a "very sensitive matter related to women's dignity, north-east and border state".
"I think the parliament session should run as we're ready to address and discuss the issue," he added.
"We want the PM to hold a discussion (on Manipur issue) in the House. They are aware of the situation since they have governments both at the Centre and state," says AAP MP Raghav Chadha. (PTI)
Even though the government was ready for a discussion on Manipur, the opposition disrupted Parliament proceedings and did now allow the debate to take place, the BJP charged on Thursday as it questioned the timing of the surfacing of a May 4 video of two women being paraded naked in the northeastern state.
The BJP said that a discussion on the situation in Manipur would have sent out a "meaningful and positive" message to the people of the violence-hit state but the opposition parties did not let it happen because they felt that incidents of "misbehavior" with women in Congress-ruled states as well as the violence during the West Bengal panchayat elections may also come up.