AAP leader Sanjay Singh suspended for session from RS on Manipur protests

Opposition protests in the Rajya Sabha since last week on the issue of violence in Manipur intensified on Monday with the House passing a resolution to suspend AAP member Sanjay Singh for the rest of the session. Ugly scenes were witnessed in Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar’s room during a meeting of floor leaders that ended with the Opposition walking out. The deadlock continues.

To counter the Opposition’s demand for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement and discussion on the Manipur situation, BJP members issued notices for debating law and order issues in the Opposition-ruled states.

Dhankhar announced minutes after the House convened on Monday that he had received 11 notices under Rule 176 for holding a Brief Discussion on Manipur violence, law and order situation and attacks on women in Rajasthan, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and other Opposition-ruled states. The Chairman further said that 27 members have also issued notices under Rule 267 for suspension of listed business to discuss the above issues.

Recalling his decision of July 20, the Speaker said he accepted the notices under Rule 176 for Short Term Discussion on the Manipur situation. This led to protests by the Opposition and adjournment of the House for several minutes.

When the House reconvened at noon, protests started again with Sanjay Singh walking through the Well, raising slogans and displaying placards. Dhankhar warns Singh that he will name him. As the protests continued, House Speaker Piyush Goyal moved a motion to suspend Singh for the rest of the monsoon session. The motion was passed by voice vote and the House adjourned until 2PM and then until 3PM.

Deputy Chairman Harivansh asked Singh to leave the House as he was suspended for the rest of the session as opposition members stood in their seats in support of him. The House adjourned for the day. Singh and other members of the Opposition gathered at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the Parliament House complex and sat on a dharna. Initially, Dhankhar convened a meeting of the floor leaders of various Upper House parties to find a way for the smooth running of the House. There is no stopping to reach.

Later, in the second meeting of floor leaders after Singh’s suspension, Dhankhar imposed a condition that only floor leaders of parties having five or more members could attend. Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge did not attend. In the meeting he also named Raghav Chadha (AAP), Shantanu Sen (TMC) and Binoy Vishwam (CPI) who were present in the meeting and said they should leave as they are not floor leaders of their respective parties. This angered all the Opposition members and they walked out of the meeting, according to sources present at the meeting.

Home Minister Amit Shah met Prime Minister Modi earlier today to discuss the Parliament deadlock, sources said. The Opposition Government has indicated that Shah may make a statement on the prevailing situation in Manipur and a Brief Discussion will be held. The Opposition maintains that the PM made the statement. The government also plans to start its legislative work from Tuesday until the Opposition protests continue.