Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday demanded a statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Parliament over the violence in Manipur even as both the Houses were adjorned for the day amid ruckus over the matter.
"Manipur is burning. Women are raped, naked, paraded and the PM is keeping quiet and is giving statements outside," Kharge, who is also the Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition, said.
Kharge was referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement on the viral video of two tribal women being paraded naked in Manipur. PM Modi, addressing the media at Parliament complex before the start of Monsoon session, said the incident insulted the entire country and "140 crore countrymen are feeling ashamed".
"I want to assure the countrymen that no guilty will be spared. Law will act with its full might and firmness... What has happened to these daughters of Manipur can never be forgiven," PM Modi said.
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As soon as the Lok Sabha assembled at 2 pm, opposition leaders shouted slogans like "Manipur is burning". Amid the ruckus, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said the government had already made it clear it was open to discussion on Manipur in both the Houses.
"We have made it clear that we are ready for discussion on Manipur in both Houses. Manipur is a sensitive issue. Home Minister will reply to the discussion in detail. Let the Speaker decide the date of discussion," ANI quoted Joshi as saying.
Outside Parliament, during a joint opposition press conference, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh said their demand for a statement by the Prime Minister in both Houses was ignored.
"The parties of I-N-D-I-A had demanded, in accordance with rule 267, to suspend all businesses to hold discussions on Manipur and for the Prime Minister to issue a statement, based on which the discussions could begin in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Our demands were neglected and were not heard," PTI quoted Ramesh as saying.