"Manipur does not matter": Chaos in Delhi assembly over BJP MLA's remark

Digital Desk: A BJP MLA's remark that "Manipur does not matter to anyone" sparked chaos in the Delhi Assembly on Thursday, triggering the removal of four BJP MLAs.

The violence in the northeastern state since May 3 was the topic of a brief conversation that was started by AAP's Durgesh Pathak. The BJP MLAs stood up in opposition, arguing that the House should only discuss matters related to Delhi.

The MLAs were questioned by Deputy Speaker Rakhi Birla over their protest. She stated, "Do they feel that Manipur is not an issue to be discussed in the Assembly? Even the UP Assembly discussed the Manipur issue."

The Manipur issue was dismissed by BJP MLA Mohan Singh Bisht from Karaval Nagar, who claimed that the state's present events do not matter.  Issues about Delhi have been discussed since the morning, the Deputy Speaker retorted, but was the opposition "seriously participating in the discussion?"

The MLAs, though, refused to relent. Pathak expressed regret that the BJP opposed a discussion of the matter. He led the AAP members in raising slogans in opposition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Abhay Verma, Jitender Mahajan, Ajay Mahawar, and OP Sharma of the BJP were soon escorted out of the House.

In order to force Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the Manipur issue, the Opposition moved a no-confidence motion against the government during the monsoon session of parliament.

However, the PM didn't mention the matter for 90 minutes, and he only spoke about it briefly after the opposition walked out of parliament.