Manipur debate in Rajya Sabha lost in a maze of rules
The HinduWith just two sittings remaining in the monsoon session of Parliament, the debate on Manipur is unlikely to be held in the Rajya Sabha, with the two sides sticking to their respective positions. The Opposition’s original demand was to hold the debate under Rule 267, which requires suspending the day’s business and stipulates the Prime Minister’s presence in the House as non-negotiable. On August 3, the Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha, Piyush Goyal, along with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi walked up to the Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge’s room to broker a truce. Mr. Shah has already said on the floor of Upper House that he is tied up in the Lok Sabha with the Opposition Trinamool Congress floor leader Derek O’ Brien said the Opposition is prepared for the debate but Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presence is still non-negotiable.