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It is “my way or the highway” approach and follow the middle way for smooth functioning of the Parliament.
Meanwhile, 44 senior leaders from 34 parties on Wednesday attended the traditional all-party meeting called by the government, aimed at ensuring a smooth session that is scheduled to run till August 11. After the meeting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said that several important issues were raised during the meeting, reflecting the dynamic political climate in India.
On the opposition’s demand for a discussion on violence in Manipur, Joshi said the government is ready for a discussion during the monsoon session of Parliament, but termed the opposition’s demand for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement on the issue as a “disruption warning”.
Speaking to reporters after a customary all-party meeting before the start of the session on Thursday, Joshi clarified that the Union Home Ministry was the nodal ministry on the northeastern state’s issue.
Opposition parties have been pushing for the Prime Minister’s statement in Parliament on the situation in Manipur, where over 150 people have lost their lives in ethnic violence triggered by the ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ on May 3.
“All parties are demanding a discussion on Manipur. The government is ready for a discussion on Manipur whenever the Rajya Sabha Chairman and the Lok Sabha Speaker fix the date and time, Joshi said after a meeting chaired by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.
Asked about the opposition’s demand for the Prime Minister to make a statement, Joshi said when the government has agreed to a discussion, raising such issues that the Prime Minister should come is tantamount to threatening to disrupt Parliament.
Joshi said the government has listed 31 bills for the session, which will have 17 sittings before it ends on August 11.
Besides demanding the Prime Minister’s statement, the opposition members are also pressing for withdrawal of the Delhi Services Ordinance, discussion on issues related to Karnataka food security, Enforcement Directorate action against Tamil Nadu ministers, price rise, train accident in Balasore and challenges at the border.
Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said, “We want to bring an adjournment motion for discussion tomorrow (Thursday) as the situation in Manipur is deteriorating.”
He said, “We do not understand the silence of the Prime Minister on the Manipur issue. At least he could have issued an appeal for peace,” Pramod Tiwari, deputy leader of the Congress in the Rajya Sabha, told reporters.
Tiwari also urged the BJP not to disrupt the proceedings of Parliament and allow the House to function.