As the Parliament logjam continues over opposition's relentless demand for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's comprehensive statement on Manipur violence, I.N.D.I.A parties reportedly discussed a proposal to move no-confidence motion against the government. Both the sides -- BJP and I.N.D.I.A -- held parliamentary meetings on Tuesday morning to map out a strategy for the floor of the House.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived at the Parliament for BJP's parliamentary meeting. Meanwhile, the leaders of the newly formed Opposition alliance - I.N.D.I.A - also met at the office of Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge in Parliament to chalk out a strategy for the floor of the House.
PM Modi hits back at opposition
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a jibe at the opposition alliance INDIA, citing reviled names like East India Company and Indian Mujahideen to assert that people cannot be misled merely by the use of the country's name. In his address to the BJP parliamentary party, Modi said the opposition is frustrated and disappointed and its conduct shows that it has made up its mind to remain in the opposition, sources quoting him said.
He took names of several organisations with the name of 'India' to make the point that merely having such a term in their nomenclature does not change anything, sources said as per PTI.
Opposition demands discussion on Manipur
The opposition demanded that there should be a discussion on Manipur in the House. "The Prime Minister should issue a detailed statement on this matter and inform the country about the situation there," the Congress said in a statement after the meeting.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge reiterated that the "situation in Northeast is fragile and the repercussions of Manipur violence seems to be spilling to other states too. This is not good for our sensitive border states." "High time PM Modi sheds his ego and takes the country into confidence on Manipur. PM Modi must tell what is his Government doing to improve the situation and when will normalcy return in Manipur," he added.
Several Rajya Sabha MPs including, Raghav Chadha, K Keshava Rao, KR Suresh Reddy, Joginipalli Santosh Kumar, Badugula Lingaiah Yadav, Ranjeet Ranjan, Manoj Jha, Syed Naseer Hussain, Tiruchi Siva, Imran Pratapgadhi and Rajiv Shukla gave suspension of Business Notice in Rajya Sabha under rule 267 and demand discussion on ongoing violence in Manipur. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi gave Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha, demanding to discuss Manipur situation.
The Centre and the opposition have been demanding a debate on the Manipur issue, albeit under different rules. While the government agreed for a 'short-term' discussion under Rule 176, the Opposition pressed for suspending all business under Rule 267 and that the Prime Minister make a suo motu statement followed by a discussion.
