Denied debate on Manipur, Oppn stages walkout

Leaders of the Opposition parties protest against the Manipur violence, at Vidhan Bhavan, on Friday. Pic/Atul Kamble

The Opposition on Friday staged a walk-out in the lower House of the state legislature after the presiding officer rejected their demand for a debate on the Manipur incident, wherein two women were stripped, paraded naked and sexually assaulted by a mob.

The MLAs, particularly female members like Congress's Varsha Gaikwad and Yashomati Thakur and Praniti Shinde, asked Speaker Rahul Narvekar to allow them to speak on the issue. However, Narvekar asked them to come back with an official submission. "You haven't given me any intimation in advance. There are rules that the members are supposed to follow. You have raised a very serious issue that has been condemned by all," said Narvekar, assuring them an opportunity. The legislators shouted slogans and walked out of the House.

Later Gaikwad, who is the president of Mumbai Congress, said that the incident was a dark chapter in India's history. "We demanded that the House pass a resolution, demanding justice for the survivors and condemning the inaction of the Mainpur government, but we were not allowed to," she said.

In the Legislative Council, Deputy Chairperson Neelam Gorhe also rejected the demand for a debate. She told the agitating members of the Opposition that she had written a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking strict action against the culprits. "The incident is very serious. I think the Opposition should not politicise it," she added. Congress MLA Bhai Jagtap, who had raised the issue in the upper House, demanded to know whether Manipur was part of the country.