Despite Defense Minister Rajnath Singh’s discussions with key opposition leaders, including Congress President and Rajya Sabha’s Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, no headway has been made to end the logjam in Parliament. For three consecutive days, the monsoon session has seen no business conducted, with the opposition INDIA alliance demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement on the Manipur ethnic violence since May 3. Efforts to resolve the deadlock have intensified, with Singh reaching out to the opposition, but the situation remains unresolved.
The INDIA alliance, consisting of the Congress, TMC, and DMK, insists on a detailed discussion in Parliament about the Manipur situation, with the Prime Minister addressing the House. Protests have erupted in the Parliament complex, with the INDIA alliance MPs demonstrating against the suspension of Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh from Rajya Sabha and pressing for further debate on Manipur. In response, members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party staged a sit-in to draw attention to increasing atrocities against women in Rajasthan, which is governed by the Congress.
Rajnath Singh’s latest outreach reflects the government’s determination to end the logjam and address the situation in Manipur. However, the opposition remains steadfast in their demand for the Prime Minister’s statement. Despite receiving 27 notices for discussion under Rule 167 (entailing a discussion without voting), Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar’s attempts to break the deadlock have not been successful. The INDIA alliance continues to demand a statement from Prime Minister Modi, and a meeting called by Dhankhar saw the opposition walking out when AAP’s Raghav Chadha and TMC’s Santanu Sen were excluded.
Both the opposition and treasury bench members have engaged in protests at the Gandhi statue, with the BJP lawmakers demanding the dismissal of the Rajasthan government over alleged atrocities against women, and the INDIA alliance calling for a debate on Manipur. Opposition leaders have strategized to object to any attempt to introduce the Delhi ordinance without prior notice. Some non-Congress parties have urged the INDIA alliance to speed up, form coordination committees, and explore new forms of protests outside Parliament. The stalemate continues, and the pressure is mounting for a resolution on the Manipur issue, with both the government and the opposition refusing to back down.