Raghav Chadha, an AAP Senior Leader and Rajya Sabha MP, strongly criticized the suspension of fellow party MP Sanjay Singh by the Rajya Sabha Chairman. Sanjay Singh was suspended for the entire monsoon session for questioning the Chairman on the Manipur issue. Chadha stated that it is unprecedented for a Rajya Sabha MP to be suspended for raising concerns about a critical problem in the country.
According to Chadha, suspending an MP for the entire session is usually done in exceptional circumstances, such as if the MP has committed a violent act or harmed the dignity of the Parliament. He expressed regret that Sanjay Singh was suspended simply for approaching the chair and asking questions.
Chadha emphasized that the incident in Manipur is not just a matter of state security but of national security. He called for a detailed and special discussion on this issue in Parliament, highlighting that the unrest in Manipur is beginning to affect neighboring states as well. He warned that if the issue is not resolved quickly, it could become a threat to the entire North-East states.
Chadha also criticized the government for breaching Articles 355 and 356 of the Constitution in Manipur and failing to maintain peace and order. He suggested that the central government should dissolve Manipur’s Biren Singh government and impose President’s control there.
In addition to his statements, Chadha took to Twitter to address the situation. He mentioned raising a point of order in Parliament and requesting a division of votes under Rajya Sabha rules 255 and 256 to resolve Sanjay Singh’s suspension transparently. However, his request was turned down despite the numbers being against the treasury benches.
Chadha also mentioned an important precedent from 2012 when discussions on attacks on migrants from Northeast India were initiated in Rajya Sabha. He argued that given the current crisis in Manipur, a discussion should be authorized following the same precedent under rule 267.
