Heated exchanges in Rajya Sabha over Goa, Manipur

New Delhi, March 30 (IANS) The Rajya Sabha on Thursday witnessed heated arguments between the opposition and treasury benches, with the Congress alleging that the BJP manipulated a majority in the Goa and Manipur assemblies.

The Congress also demanded a discussion on the issue under substantive motion that it has already submitted.

The matter was raised by Congress leader Digvijay Singh, who requested Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien to arrange a discussion.

"My substantive motion is pending for the past two weeks. I am asking (for discussion) in the interest of the people of Manipur and Goa," he said.

Kurien then asked Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi to pass on the information to the government. Naqvi agreed to let House Leader and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley know.

Digvijay Singh's demand for a discussion was supported by Tapan Kumar Sen of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M).

Sen said Digvijay Singh had submitted substantive motion "as per your advise" and there should be discussion on it.

Intervening, Opposition Leader in the House Ghulam Nabi Azad said: "The urgency of the subject is lost."

He said the BJP "manipulated a majority" in Goa and Manipur despite finishing second in both states after assembly elections.

"Manipur and Goa Chief Ministers are not duly elected," Azad charged.

Naqvi reacted sharply to this, saying the Congress did stake a claim to form the government in the two states for a long time.

Digvijay Singh has been raising the issue repeatedly in the Rajya Sabha.

He has been told by the Chair that the matter was being "examined" by the Rajya Sabha Chairman and he would be informed when a discussion could be held.