Centre to table bill for PR extension in monsoon session
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 21 2025: The Centre will seek Parliament's approval to extend the President's Rule (PR) in Manipur during the upcoming Monsoon Session, with a resolution listed as Business No 17 in the government's agenda.

The session, which commenced on Monday, will continue till August 21, 2025 .

The proposal for extending President's Rule, imposed in Manipur on February 13 this year under Article 356(1) of the Constitution is expected to be one of the hotly debated sessions.

The resolution will be brought before both Houses for approval as part of other legislative, financial and policy business.

The matter was discussed during an all-party meeting held at Parliament House Complex on Sunday.

The meeting, chaired by union health and family welfare minister and Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha, Jagat Prakash Nadda, and convened by union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju, was attended by 54 leaders from 40 political parties, including several union ministers.

Also listed for the Monsoon Session is the Mani-fiur Goods and Services Tax Amendment) Bill, 2025, which seeks to replace an ordinance currently in force.

In addition, the Demands for Grants for Manipur for 2025-26, along with the related Appropriation Bill, are scheduled for introduction, discussion and voting.

Addressing the meeting, Rijiju said that the Monsoon Session will have 21 sittings over 32 days.

Both Houses will be adjourned on August 12 and resume on August 18 to accommodate Indepen derice Day celebrations.

The government has identified 17 items of legislative and other business for the session and has expressed its readiness to discuss any other pressing issues raised by political parties as per House procedures.

Leaders of various parties assured cooperation for the smooth functioning of the session.

In his closing remarks, Nadda thanked the participants and said the ministry of parliamentary affairs has taken note of all concerns raised and would follow due procedures to address them.

The imposition of President's Rule in Manipur on February 13, 2025, marked the eleventh such instance in the state's history.

The situation followed the resignation of chief minister N Biren on February 9.While the state assembly was kept under suspended animation with its term continuing until 2027, public and political sentiment has increasingly turned against continuation of the central rule.

Civil society organisations and political parties have described the ongoing President's Rule as "undemocratic" and inadequate for addressing the complex socio-political dynamics on the ground.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Manipur has demanded fresh elections and called for the restoration of democratic processes, arguing that local issues, particularly concerning the state's territorial integrity and inter-community tensions, can only be resolved by an accountable, elected government.

Union home minister Amit Shah had earlier defended the move in Parliament, stating that since November 2024, no major violence had been reported and that peace efforts were underway through backchannel talks with both Meetei and Kuki groups.

He stressed that imposing President's Rule was not a result of governance failure but a measure to facilitate ongoing dialogue.

Amit Shah argued that premature government formation could hinder the peace process and maintained that no opposition party, including the Congress, had initiated a no confidence motion against the previous government.

Congress leaders had criticised the delay in imposing President's Rule and calling it a case of "too little, too late" .

Jairam Ramesh, Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi have all argued that constitutional breakdown was evident long before February and accused the Centre of abdicating its responsibility.

During parliamentary debates, Shashi Tharoor supported the resolution confirming President's Rule but emphasised the urgent need for democratic restoration through inclusivity and dialogue.

Among the most vocal critics has been Congress MP Dr Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, who repeatedly accused the Union government of treating Manipur like a colony.

In his speech during the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address, Bimol condemned the omission of Manipur's crisis from the President's speech and called it an act of political erasure.

He described the state under central rule as a "banana republic" .

Recently, Bimol pledged to raise core issues such as the plight of internally displaced persons, illegal buffer zones that limit freedom of movement even for MPs, and broader governance failures.

He criticised these zones as unconstitutional and divisive, reinforcing the separation between communities rather than healing them.

Within the BJP, internal pressure has grown over tjme.

Earlier this year, several BJP MLAs met Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, urging him to restore a democratically elected government.

A representation submitted by the BJP MLAs reflected on what they described as the "overwhelming" desire of the public for elected leadership.

The move followed informal meetings among ruling party MLAs, including one hosted by MLA Thongam Biswajit, indicating an internal push to end President's Rule.

Meanwhile, efforts to build consensus for restoring governance continue, with re cent meetings between Naga People's Front (NPF) MLAs and Kuki MLAs in Tengnoupal district, as well as follow-up talks involving BJP legislators.

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