Parliament logjam may end as Centre, Opposition aim for ‘middle path’

The deadlock over the modalities of discussing the situation in Manipur seemed to be nearing an end, with the opposition and the government likely to arrive at a middle path, leaders from both sides indicated on Thursday. “INDIA parties have offered a middle path solution to the Leader of the House to break the logjam and get a discussion on Manipur going in an uninterrupted manner in the Rajya Sabha. Hope the Modi government agrees.” The Opposition, which was adamant for PM’s statement on Manipur since the beginning of the session, decided to climb down after its delegation met President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday. While government leaders are learnt to have said they will get back with a decision, a party person not wishing to be quoted said the government will take “a considered decision” since a resolution is to be adopted at the end of the discussion. The TMC leader said while the opposition had raised the issue of the rules under which the discussion should take place, there should be a discussion of “6-8 hours” on the issue in the “spirit of the nation.” Responding to the TMC lawmaker’s intervention, chairman Rajya Sabha, Jagdeep Dhankhar said the suggestion was “wholesome” and a discussion on Manipur is “imperative”.