Responding to the continued stalemate in the Parliament over the Manipur crisis, Union Minister and Leader of House in Rajya Sabha Piyush Goyal on Monday hit out at the Opposition saying they are “scared of having a discussion on it.” On being asked about the Opposition’s demand for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address on the situation, he said that it was the “collective responsibility of the Council of Ministers.”
“The Opposition’s attitude towards Manipur is very worrisome. The government has agreed to a discussion on the situation in Manipur, we have agreed to do it today, and we also agree to hold a discussion tomorrow or the day after… The Opposition is scared of having a discussion on Manipur, it is clear that they are running away from discussion,” Goyal told reporters outside the House.
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The minister also reacted to Opposition’s objection to the government tabling bills while a no-trust motion was pending before the Chairman, and said, “There is no such rule or precedent. Everyone knows that we have a two-thirds majority in the House, now it is up to the Chair to decide when it will be taken up. There is no precedent which shows that the proceedings in the House are suspended amid a no-confidence motion.”
Protests continued in both Houses on Monday, as Goyal addressed the Rajya Sabha and urged for a discussion on the Manipur crisis at 2 pm. The Opposition, meanwhile, pushed for PM Modi’s address on the matter, and a discussion under Rule 267.
The rule has emerged as a thorny issue in Parliament sessions recently, with no notice given under the Rule 267 being accepted by the Chair. According to the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha), under Rule 267, Rajya Sabha MPs can give a written notice to suspend all listed businesses and discuss an issue of importance the country is facing.