Parliament: Protest on Manipur Issue Disrupts LS, RS Proceedings; Houses Adjourned Till 2 pm
AAP MP Sanjay Singh with other opposition MPs during a protest over his suspension from Rajya Sabha, at Parliament House complex in the ongoing Monsoon session, in New Delhi, Thursday, July 27, 2023. (PTI Photo/Shahbaz Khan)
New Delhi: Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 2 p.m on Thursday as Opposition members, several of them dressed in black, continued with their protests on the Manipur issue.
As soon as the House met for the day and Speaker Om Birla started Question Hour, some opposition MPs trooped into the Well of the House shouting slogans and holding placards.
The MPs wore black clothes as a mark of protest for not allowing a discussion on Manipur and Prime Minister Narendra Modi not making a statement in both Houses on the violence-racked northeastern state.
A visibly peeved Speaker reminded the protesting members that it was not appropriate for them to shout slogans and display placards, saying it is against the decorum of the House.
"We have been elected and sent here by people to discuss their issues," he said and urged the members to have good discussions.
The whole country is watching and there is a good tradition in the House, Birla said, adding that he will give time to discuss the issues.
Most of the Opposition MPs wore black shirts, kurtas or jackets while those who did not were helped by other protesting MPs in tying black bands around their arms to protest against Manipur violence, an issue on which the House has witnessed repeated adjournments since the start of the Monsoon Session on July 20.
When Union minister Nitin Gadkari was replying to a question from the front row of the treasury bench, some protesting members displayed the placards standing near him.
Only one question was taken up during the Question Hour and as the din continued, Birla adjourned the proceedings within seven minutes.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi wanted to address the House but the Speaker adjourned the proceedings till 2 pm.
On Wednesday, Birla admitted a no-confidence motion moved by Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi against the Narendra Modi government, setting the stage for a showdown between the Opposition and treasury benches over Manipur and other issues.
Rajya Sabha, too, was adjourned till 2 p.m after Opposition uproar over Manipur violence.
Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge speaks in the House during the Monsoon session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Thursday, July 27, 2023. (PTI Photo)
Dressed in Black, Opp MPs Meet to Chalk out Strategy
Dressed in black as a mark of protest against the government over the Manipur issue, MPs belonging to the Opposition's INDIA bloc met in the chamber of Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge here on Thursday to finalise their strategy in both Houses of Parliament.
Sources said the opposition leaders will not allow any business to be taken up in Lok Sabha after a no-confidence motion against the government was admitted by Speaker Om Birla.
The Opposition MPs have pointed out that ideally the no-confidence motion should be discussed before any other business is taken up.
They wore black clothes as a mark of protest for not allowing a discussion on Manipur and Prime Minister Narendra Modi not making a statement in both Houses on the violence-racked northeastern state.
The Opposition MPs have been protesting in Parliament every day over the issue.
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