After repeated disruptions in the Monsoon session of the Parliament over the opposition's relentless demand for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement on Manipur violence, Union ministers Piyush Goyal and Pralhad Joshi on Thursday reached out to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and other opposition leaders to break the logjam in Rajya Sabha.
The opposition parties have agreed on a 'middle path' to break the ongoing empasse. After the meeting, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "INDIA parties have offered a middle path solution to the Leader of the House to break the logjam and get a discussion on Manipur going in an uninterrupted manner in the Rajya Sabha. Hope the Modi government agrees."
Media reports said that the opposition has agreed for a discussion on Manipur under any rule, but continued to demand Modi's statement in the House on the situation in Manipur. Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar too had earlier said that he will accommodate a discussion on Manipur issues, irrespective of time and other constraints.
The opposition has been insisting on a full-fledged discussion on the Manipur issue in Rajya Sabha under Rule 267, which allows for suspension of the listed business for the day to discuss an issue, and also demanded a statement on it from the PM. The government, however, has agreed to hold a short-duration discussion under Rule 176 of Rajya Sabha. Kharge accused the government of not allowing the opposition to speak in Parliament and of "insulting" him by turning off his mike.
