The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A) comprising 26 opposition parties stuck to their demand for PM Narendra Modi’s statement on the Manipur issue on the Parliament floor, on August 1, followed by protests, walkouts, and adjournment. Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar voiced “deep concern and anguish” over the opposition’s demand for a statement from the PM, and called it “constitutionally infirm and ill-premised.”

He said, “The insistence of the Opposition members that the Prime Minister responds (to the debate) is constitutionally ill-premised. The accountability of the government and executive to the legislature is a collective responsibility,” as per a media report. The opposition parties staged a walkout during Question Hour and the afternoon session after their demands for an immediate discussion on Manipur with the PM’s statement were not met. Dhankar said this was a “very dangerous precedent” unfolding before the country and that the oath and commitment toward the country were being seriously compromised by these actions, the report further said.

D​hankar also commented on the sloganeering by the opposition during the introduction of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill 2023 in Lok Sabha. He said the disruption was resulting in the House becoming a subject of “ridicule” by the public.

The opposition brought a no-confidence motion against the Modi government which was accepted by Speaker Om Birla on July 26, 2023. The motion will be discussed in Parliament from August 8-10 as per reports.