Face-Off Between Ruling & Opposition Parties Over Crimes Against Women at Parliament’s Gandhi Statue

The Centre and Opposition parties had a face-off at the Gandhi statue on the premises of the parliament on Monday as both groups demonstrated over the issue of crimes against women.

Opposition MPs gathered at the Gandhi statue demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi speak on the situation in Manipur and the crime against women in the ethnic violence torn state.

In contrast, the BJP MPs from Rajasthan held a demonstration near the Gandhi statue in the Parliament House premises to protest against the rising number of heinous crimes against women in Rajasthan.

Union Ministers and top BJP leaders have repeatedly stressed the government is ready for a discussion on Manipur, and that it was the Opposition which was “running away” from it. However, they haven’t clearly stated if the Opposition’s specific demand for a longer discussion in the Parliament, suspending all other business for the day, is agreeable to them.

Both houses of the Parliament have been disrupted since the start of the Monsoon Session on July 20, due to protest by Opposition parties demanding a detailed discussion on the unrest in Manipur, and an official statement by PM Modi on the issue.

The Opposition is demanding suspension of all business for a day in the Parliament to discuss the Manipur issue. But the government is ready for a “short duration discussion”.