NDA-INDIA spar at Parliament’s Gandhi statue over crimes against women

The Centre and the Opposition parties are at each other’s throats again over crimes against women and the ethnic violence in Manipur. Several Opposition MPs have, for three consecutive working days now, submitted strongly-worded adjournment notices in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, while BJP MPs from Rajasthan gathered near the Gandhi statue in the Parliament House premises over allegations of growing atrocities against women in Rajasthan, and demanded immediate dismissal of the state government led by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. MPs from the Opposition alliance INDIA also gathered at the Gandhi statue, demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi speak on the situation in Manipur, and also suspend the N Biren Singh-led government in the state.
The Rajya Sabha Chairman said he has received 11 notices for discussion under Rule 176, and 27 under Rule 267 today. BJP MPs Sudhanshu Trivedi and Sushil Modi have given notices to raise discussion on violence during the Panchayat elections in West Bengal. The upper house has been adjourned till 3 pm amid loud protests. Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh was suspended by the Chairman for the remainder of the Monsoon Session for allegedly disrupting house proceedings.
Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar, who hasn’t allowed any motion under Rule 267 during his term so far, last year said motions moved under the rule “have become a known mechanism of causing disruption”. The Opposition is demanding that MPs should be allowed to speak on the issue without any time-limit, for which all other business should be suspended for the day — which Rule 267 of the house allows.
Rule 176, which the Centre is insistent on, allows for a short-duration discussion, not exceeding two-and-a-half hours, on a particular issue. It states that “any member desirous of raising discussion on a matter of urgent public importance may give notice in writing to the Secretary-General specifying clearly and precisely the matter to be raised: Provided that the notice shall be accompanied by an explanatory note stating reasons for raising discussion on the matter in question: Provided further that the notice shall be supported by the signatures of at least two other members.”
As per Rule 176, the matter can be taken up immediately, within a few hours or even the next day. The rule, however, is clear that no formal motion or voting shall be held under a short-duration discussion.
“We want debate in the House under Rule 267, but some ministers of Modi government say there will be only a short duration discussion, others says that there will only be a half an hour discussion. Rule 267 debate can go on for hours, voting can also happen, we want that,” Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said in a tweet, adding that there should be a detailed statement by the Prime Minister first, followed by a debate in the Parliament under Rule 267.
“It is shameful that the Prime Minister is making a statement outside the House, when Parliament is in session,” he added.
Accusing the PM of indulging in “5D drama” to escape responsibility in such situations, Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh reiterated the Opposition alliance’s demand.
“INDIA’s demand is straightforward. PM should make a comprehensive (sic) statement on the horrific post-May 3 developments in Manipur, after which a discussion would take place to express our collective sense of pain, anguish and desire for reconciliation.
No 5D drama that PM does to escape responsibility in such situations: He denies, distorts, diverts, deflects and defames. Will he rise to the occasion? Manipur is waiting. The nation is watching,” he tweeted.
Union Ministers and top BJP leaders have repeatedly stressed the government is ready for a discussion on Manipur, and that it was the Opposition which was “running away” from it.