Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge took a strong stance against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Parliament after the BJP cited incidents of crime across the country to counter the Opposition’s demand for a discussion on the Manipur violence issue during the ongoing monsoon session.
Kharge, as the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, asserted the right of the Opposition to question the government in Parliament. He refuted the BJP’s attempt to compare other states’ situations with Manipur, emphasizing that the law and order situation in Manipur is concerning and warrants discussion.
The Congress leader expressed the Opposition’s willingness to discuss the Manipur issue in Parliament, but he criticized the government for not being open to such discussions. He questioned the government’s intention to stifle voices and demanded the Prime Minister’s statement on the government’s action regarding the situation in Manipur.
During the third day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, the Manipur situation dominated the proceedings, with the Opposition pressing for discussions on the issue. However, disruptions and protests led to the suspension of an Aam Aadmi Party MP for the remainder of the session.
While Union Minister Amit Shah stated the government’s readiness for a discussion on the Manipur situation in the Lok Sabha, tensions between the government and the Opposition persisted during the session. The Congress and other opposition leaders sought a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the matter.