New Delhi: Union Minister Anurag Thakur accused the opposition of avoiding a debate in Parliament regarding the ethnic violence in Manipur. He questioned the purpose of being elected to the House if the opposition preferred to raise issues on the streets instead of engaging in parliamentary discussions.
The ongoing impasse in Parliament since the Monsoon session began on July 20 revolves around the opposition’s demand for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make a statement in the House regarding the Manipur situation. Thakur, speaking to reporters outside Parliament, asserted that the government was ready for a debate on the matter, and even Home Minister Amit Shah had expressed willingness for such a discussion.
“If you have to raise issues on the streets, then what is the use of getting elected to the House,” Thakur told reporters outside Parliament, insisting that the government is ready for a discussion on the situation in Manipur.
Thakur urged the opposition to participate in the debate and criticised them for allegedly seeking reasons to avoid the parliamentary proceedings. He accused them of resorting to politics during an election year and prioritising gaining media attention over engaging in meaningful discussions.
Referring to the recent visit of a delegation of 21 opposition MPs to Manipur, Thakur questioned why the same opposition leaders did not take a similar delegation to West Bengal, which also witnessed violence during the recent Panchayat elections. He suggested that the opposition might be hesitant to visit West Bengal due to fear of the Mamata Banerjee government.
Thakur emphasised that the government was actively working to restore peace in Manipur, and the opposition should refrain from destabilising the situation by spreading fear or provocation. He recalled the past, claiming that during the UPA government, Manipur faced prolonged unrest with silence from the then Prime Minister and Home Minister.
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