Rajya Sabha passes Manipur Prez Rule resolution extension amid INDIA Bloc's SIR protest
Opposition MPs refused to speak on the Manipur resolution, demanding a debate on the SIR process, leading to the resolution being passed by voice vote
Chaos gripped the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday (August 5) after Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh pushed ahead with the debate on the Manipur resolution, despite strong objections from the Opposition, which demanded a prior discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in Bihar.
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Opposition demands SIR debate
Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi was asked by the Deputy Chairman to return to his seat and speak on the resolution. Pratapgarhi refused, continuing his protest. Trinamool Congress MP Sushmita Dev, next on the speakers’ list, also declined to proceed, insisting that the House must first allow a debate on SIR before discussing the Manipur issue.
DMK MP Tiruchi Siva echoed the demand, stating that either the SIR must be discussed immediately or the Centre must provide a timeline for such a discussion.
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'Discuss SIR first'
Brushing aside the objections, Harivansh called on YSR Congress Party MP Subhas Chandra Bose Pilli to speak. As Pilli began his submission, Opposition MPs raised slogans of “SIR par charcha ho” (“Discuss SIR first”), continuing their protest.
Despite mounting resistance, Harivansh proceeded with the discussion on the Manipur resolution. One by one, the INDIA Bloc MPs listed to speak declined their turns in protest.
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Manipur resolution passed
Eventually, the Deputy Chairman cut the discussion short and urged Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai to reply. Rai, under visible pressure, asserted that normalcy was returning to Manipur and quickly shortened his speech. Harivansh then moved to put the resolution to a vote, urging protesting MPs to return to their seats if they wished to register their votes.
With the Opposition refusing to relent, the resolution was passed by a voice vote amid loud sloganeering and walkouts.