Indian Parliament Standoff: Despite Expected Uproar Over Manipur On 4th Day, Legislative Schedule Planned

NEW DELHI: As the logjam over Manipur continues in parliament, it is likely to be the backdrop against which the government is planning a big push on the legislative front.

Government sources opined that the opposition is not expected to back down from its demand that Prime Minister Narendra Modi speak in parliament on the Manipur issue. The government, however, is firm on its refusal, on the assumption that the opposition's demand for PM’s statement is powered by electoral considerations.

This is the reason why the government is now going to insist on getting its legislative work done, sources said. Bills will have to be passed even amidst uproar in Parliament, sources said.

On Tuesday morning, Prime Minister Modi chaired a parliamentary meeting of the BJP to chalk out its strategy.

Earlier, Union Home minister Amit Shah told the Lok Sabha on Monday that the government is willing to have a discussion on Manipur, but it was made clear that only the Home Minister will speak on the Manipur situation, sources said.

Meanwhile, sources said the government made efforts to resolve the situation through discussion.

To diffuse the imbroglio, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to top opposition leaders over phone. But the opposition is said to be adamant and unwilling to budge, forcing a flurry of meetings on the government side.

It was informed that several senior ministers met PM Modi, while HM Shah and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi met with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and the current approach on legislation has been decided on, sources said.

To get rid of the logjam, the government has planned a heavy legislative schedule, with 31 bills to be taken up for consideration during the monsoon session. Among the bills is one meant to replace the Ordinance that gives Centre the power over bureaucrats posted in Delhi.

On the other hand, the Opposition parties are equally determined to not allow any legislative business in Parliament before a discussion is held on Manipur. And PM Modi has to speak on Manipur in parliament even before that, they insist.

According to Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, Manipur is "one of the gravest crisis our country has faced in a long time".

"There has been a horrendous loss of lives... there were rapes and violence and displacement. And now it is spreading. In Mizoram, there has been a backlash and Meities are fleeing the state," Mr Tharoor said, declaring that there is no other subject more important than that which needs PM Modi's attention.

Sources said although the northeastern state has witnessed violence in 1993 and 1997, no Prime Minister had visited the state when the violence took place. Moreover, it was not discussed in parliament and there is only one instance when the Minister of State for Home had given out a statement.

There is now a rethink on how the government plans to tackle the issue. Sources said that while the government will limit its reply in parliament to Manipur, no mention of violence in Opposition-ruled states will be made, something many BJP leaders have been doing over the last weeks.

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