‘Requesting Oppn With Folded Hands…’: Anurag Thakur Appeals To Parties On Parliament

Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Sunday (July 23) made an appeal to the opposition parties on Sunday, urging them to participate in the debate on the pressing issue as the Monsoon session of Parliament remains deadlocked over the issue of ethnic violence in Manipur. Thakur also urged the opposition not to politicise the issue of atrocities against women in the northeastern state, with his hands folded.

On Monday, the opposition parties plan to stage a joint protest in Parliament to draw attention to the situation in Manipur. Before beginning a discussion on the issue, they demanded a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, the government has stated that Home Minister Amit Shah, not the Prime Minister, will address the issue.

Thakur expressed deep concern about the heinous atrocities committed against women, emphasising that such incidents must be stopped by states. He stated that the government is eager to hold an in-depth discussion on the subject because women face similar challenges in states such as Rajasthan, Bihar, West Bengal, and Manipur.

“We anticipate a meaningful debate in the House, with participation from all political parties. No one should avoid the debate. I humbly request that the opposition join the discussion,” the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader was quoted by news agency PTI as saying. 

Thakur also urged the opposition to avoid politicising such critical issues and instead actively participate in parliamentary debate.

“The opposition tends to create a spectacle to stay in the spotlight, but fails to contribute to the actual discussion,” Thakur said when asked about the ongoing Manipur protests.

The Monsoon session of Parliament, which began on July 20, has been disrupted by ethnic violence in Manipur, particularly a video allegedly recorded on May 4 depicting atrocities against women in the state. The video surfaced last week, causing increased tensions and calls for a thorough investigation into the matter.