With 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. Both sides claim that they want the subject to be debated but have differed on the rule under which it can be taken up. The government, according to sources, will still try to push through a debate on Friday, the last day of the session.
The debate is lost in the complicated maze of parliamentary rules. 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. The government insisted on a debate under Rule 176, which entails a short duration discussion.
