Did Rajya Sabha Extend President's Rule in Manipur?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- The Rajya Sabha has extended President's Rule in Manipur for six months.
- The decision comes amidst ongoing political unrest and opposition protests.
- Minister Nityanand Rai clarified that violence was linked to a High Court ruling on reservations.
- Peace has reportedly returned, following consultations with various stakeholders.
- The House remains divided on addressing electoral reforms, highlighting ongoing political tensions.
New Delhi, Aug 5 (NationPress) The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday approved a statutory resolution to extend President’s Rule in Manipur for an additional six months, starting from August 13, 2025.
The resolution was presented by Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai and was adopted through a voice vote, despite continuous disruptions and shouting from Opposition members who were advocating for a discussion regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar.
During the session, Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh presided over, making repeated appeals for order.
“Please return to your seats and say 'no’,” he requested from the Opposition MPs, emphasizing that the resolution was a constitutional requirement under Article 356 and needed to be addressed within the stipulated timeframe.
“We haven't conducted any business in the House,” he remarked, directing his comments towards Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, as disruptions persisted.
Rai introduced the resolution, explaining that the extension was imperative due to the ongoing administrative gap in Manipur. He clarified that the violence in the region was sparked by a High Court decision concerning reservations and was not a result of religious conflicts.
“Those claiming it's communal are mistaken,” Rai stated, highlighting that no fatalities had occurred during the eight months of President’s Rule.
He also mentioned that the Ministry of Home Affairs had consulted with security agencies and civil society groups, noting that peace had largely been restored in the state.
Despite the Deputy Chairman's call for cooperation, several Opposition members, including Shushmita Dev, Tiruchi Siva, and Ram Pratap Garhi, insisted on discussing the SIR under Rule 259.
Slogans such as “SIR par charcha ho” and “Vote ki chori nahi chalegi” resonated throughout the House, overshadowing speeches and necessitating multiple interventions from the Chair.
Only Subhash Chandra Bose Pilli of the YSR Congress Party was able to voice his thoughts, but his comments went unheard amidst the chaos.
When BJD MP Mujibullah Khan attempted to speak on Odisha, the Deputy Chairman guided him back to the statutory resolution.
The Opposition members refused to engage on the Manipur matter, insisting that the House first address electoral issues.
Ultimately, the Deputy Chairman requested members to register their dissent from their seats and confirmed the resolution was adopted through a voice vote.
The House was then adjourned until August 6, leaving significant legislative business unresolved amid escalating procedural and political conflicts.