As the Parliament impasse dragged on, opposition parties continued their protest through Monday night over the suspension of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) member Sanjay Singh, while also reiterating calls for debate on the Manipur crisis. The parties held placards with 'I.N.D.I.A for Manipur' and demanded a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the ongoing ethnic violence in the state.
The Congress on Monday alleged that the Parliament did not function for a third day because of the "continued refusal" of the government to accept the Opposition alliance INDIA's demand for a "comprehensive statement" by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in both the Houses on the Manipur situation. Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured in the Lower House that the government will discuss the issue. However, opposition wants a debate allowing all parties to speak without any time restrictions.
Opposition's all night protest
The opposition has been holding protests on the issue since the Monsoon session started on Thursday. On Monday night, parties from the INDIA alliance took turns with a team sitting near the Gandhi statue through the night. Visuals showed the party leaders sitting outside the Parliament premises even on Tuesday morning. "We want to give the biggest message, Sanjay Singh is not alone. We all are together. Our demand of PM to speak in the Parliament on Manipur will continue," says Rajya Sabha MP and Mahila Congress President Jebi Mather.
"All parties have drawn up rosters of their leaders who will represent them through the day and night. Leaders will take turns. There is full solidarity among the parties. While the move is to protest Singh's suspension. It is also a protest demanding the PM speak on Manipur whether in Rajya Sabha or Lok Sabha," a senior leader told PTI.
The last time an all-night protest was carried out by the opposition leaders was in July 2022 when 20 suspended Rajya Sabha members went on a 50-hour relay protest inside the Parliament complex.
The logjam of the Parliament continued for the third day after MP Sanjay Singh was suspended for repeatedly "violating" the directives of the Chair after he rushed to the well of the House and pointed at the Chair during protest by opposition members on the Manipur issue. Sanjay Singh, however, remained inside the Rajya Sabha chamber as a mark of protest, and moved out after the house was adjourned for the day. He then sat on a protest before the Gandhi statue along with other opposition MPs.
