The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday. (Express Photo by Anil Sharma)Parliament Monsoon Session Day 4 Highlights (July 25): The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved a Bill that will replace the Ordinance promulgated for the creation of authority for transfers and postings of Group-A officers in Delhi. The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi this evening. The Bill is expected to be tabled in the ongoing Monsoon session of the Parliament to replace the ordinance. Meanwhile, Opposition parties are likely to move a no-confidence motion against the ruling BJP government on Wednesday, in a bid to persuade Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make a statement on the Manipur violence issue. Congress has issued a whip to its MPs, asking all MPs to be present in party’s Parliamentary office at 10.30 am tomorrow.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Lok Sabha passed the Multi-State Co-operatives Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2022 amid sloganeering by Opposition party members who continued to raise their demand for a discussion on Manipur violence in the House. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, while addressing the session, said that he has written to LoPs of both Houses informing them that the government is ready for a discussion on Manipur, and urged them to create a conducive atmosphere for such a sensitive matter.
Moreover, responding to PM Modi’s attack on the Opposition bloc INDIA, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said, “We are talking about Manipur, the PM is talking about East India”. Narendra Modi had stated that starting from the British East India company to terrorist outfits such as the Indian Mujahideen and Popular Front of India, many organisations had India in their names.
The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved a Bill that will replace the Ordinance promulgated for the creation of authority for transfers and postings of Group-A officers in Delhi.
The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi this evening.
The Bill is expected to be tabled in the ongoing Monsoon session of the Parliament to replace the ordinance.
Bharatiya Janata Party's S Phangnon Konyak Tuesday became the first woman member from Nagaland to preside over Rajya Sabha, news agency PTI reported.
On July 17, she became the first ever woman member of Rajya Sabha to be appointed to the panel of vice-chairpersons, the news agency reported.
'Marking a significant moment in history, the first woman member from Nagaland in the Rajya Sabha, S Phangnon Konyak presided over the House today,' an official statement said. According to the report, she is also the first woman to be elected to Rajya Sabha from Nagaland (April 2022) and the second woman from the state to be elected to either house of the Parliament or the state assembly.
In a tweet, Konyak said, 'Immensely privileged, humbled and overwhelmed to preside over the Rajya Sabha today. Happy that it was a productive one with The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Fifth Amendment) Bill, 2022, having been passed by the House. 'Under the visionary leadership of Hon'ble PM Shri @narendramodi Ji, women today are being given due respect and space in politics and leadership. My heartfelt gratitude to most respected Chairman, Rajya Sabha, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar Ji for this opportunity.'
Responding to this tweet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote: 'A very proud moment.'
In a move aimed at bringing gender equality, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar had last week nominated Konyak and three other women members (50 per cent of the total number) -- P T Usha, Fauzia Khan (NCP) and Sulata Deo (BJD) -- to the panel of vice-chairpersons. All these women members nominated to the panel are first term parliamentarians.
This is the first time in the history of the Upper House that equal representation has been given to women members in the panel of vice-chairpersons, the statement said.
Konyak is a member of the Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture, Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, Committee on Empowerment of Women, House Committee and Member, Governing Council of the North-Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences, Shillong. (PTI)
Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar Tuesday interacted with MPs from various parties in his chamber in Parliament to ensure smooth conduct of the House, news agency PTI reported.
This was his second attempt at reaching out to the Opposition in a bid to bring normalcy in the House and allow it to function, the report said.
The Chair in both Houses have been allowing passage of bills amid Opposition uproar over the Manipur violence issue since the start of the Monsoon session of Parliament on July 20.
Dhankhar separately met MPs of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in his chamber. He also met MPs of NCP and DMK, including Sharad Pawar and Tiruchi Siva. (PTI)
The Lok Sabha has been adjourned for the day, and will resume at 11 am on Wednesday.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, while addressing the Lok Sabha session as it resumed at 5 pm on Tuesday, said that he has written to LoPs of both Houses informing that the government is ready for a discussion on Manipur, urging them to create conducive atmosphere for such a sensitive matter.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday, while addressing the Lok Sabha, targeted the Opposition party members who were sloganeering to demand discussion on Manipur violence, and said, "Those who are raising slogans are not interested in matters of the government or governance..."
‘The Multi-State Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2022’ as reported by Joint Committee, was passed in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, amid sloganeering by Opposition party members demanding discussion on Manipur violence.
The Multi-State Co-operatives Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2022 has been tabled in the Lok Sabha for discussion after the House resumed at 5 pm amid sloganeering by Opposition part members, demanding discussion on Manipur violence.
What is the Multi-State Co-operatives Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2022?
(Source: PRSIndia.org)
The Lok Sabha resumed at 5 pm on Tuesday after it was adjourned earlier in the day, amid sloganeering by the Opposition party members demanding a discussion on Manipur violence.
The Multi-State Co-operatives Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2022 has been tabled in the Lower House for discussion.
The Rajya Sabha Tuesday passed a bill to include Dhanuhar, Dhanuwar, Kisan, Saunra, Saonra and Binjhia communities in the list of Scheduled Tribes in Chhattisgarh, news agency PTI reported.
The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Fifth Amendment) Bill, 2022 was passed in the Rajya Sabha with a voice vote, in the absence of Opposition parties, who had made a walkout earlier in the day.
The Lok Sabha had cleared the Bill in December 2022. Replying to the debate on the bill, Union Minister Arjun Munda said its passage will benefit around 72,000 people in Chattisgarh.
"It is a small number but it speaks about the sensitivity of the government towards welfare of the tribals," he said.
The Bill also seeks to formalise Bhuinya, Bhuiyan and Bhuyan as synonyms of the Bharia Bhumia community. The bill also includes three Devanagari versions of the name of the Pando community.
The House was adjourned for the day after passage of the bill. (PTI)
The Rajya Sabha has been adjourned for the day and will resume at 11 am on Wednesday.
A bill to include Dhanuhar, Dhanuwar, Kisan, Saunra, Saonra and Binjhia communities in the list of Scheduled Tribes in Chhattisgarh was introduced in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, news agency PTI reported.
Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda moved the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Fifth Amendment) Bill, 2022 for consideration and passage.
In December last year, the Lok Sabha passed the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Fifth Amendment) Bill, 2022 through a voice vote. The Bill seeks to include Dhanuhar, Dhanuwar, Kisan, Saunra, Saonra and Binjhia communities in the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs) in Chhattisgarh, the report said. The Bill seeks to formalise Bhuinya, Bhuiyan and Bhuyan as synonyms of the Bharia Bhumia community. It also includes three Devanagari versions of the name of the Pando community, PTI reported.
Taking part in the discussion, Niranjan Bishi of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) supported the Bill, saying it will be beneficial for the tribals of Chhattisgarh. Similarly, Ryaga Krishnaiah of the YSRCP, who spoke in Telugu, also supported the legislation, according to the report.
Samir Oraon (BJP), while supporting the bill, said tribals have been deprived of development since Independence but Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has taken many steps for their development. Kanakmedala Ravindra Kumar (TDP) raised the issues related to problems faced by tribals in Andhra Pradesh, but was asked by Deputy Chairman Harivansh to speak only on the Bill.
Saroj Pandey and Kirodi Lal Meena of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also took part in the discussion and highlighted the steps taken by the NDA government for the development of tribals across the country. (PTI)
Aam Aadmi Party MP Raghav Chadha on Tuesday, while addressing a press conference in the premises of the Parliament, said, "Over 25 per cent of the members of the Rajya Sabha together submitted 267 notices demanding discussion on Manipur violence, and when Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge was speaking, ruling BJP MPs started shouting."
"This shows that BJP wants to hide the atrocities in Manipur," Chadha added. (PTI)
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi on Tuesday, addressing a joint Opposition press conference, said, "limits were crossed when Leader of the House (Rajya Sabha) and Chairman, BJP MPs interrupted Leader of Opposition while he was speaking and eventually, his mic was turned off."
"This is not new India, nor is it India, these are BJP's arbitrary thoughts and work," Chaturvedi added, as she hoped that the PM would discuss Manipurviolence issue in the Parliament.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar Tuesday joined other Opposition party leaders who are protesting against the suspension of AAP's Sanjay Singh from Rajya Sabha for the remainder of the Monsoon session, news agency PTI reported.
After the Rajya Sabha was adjourned earlier today, Pawar went to the protest site to express solidarity with Singh, who was suspended for repeatedly "violating" the directives of the Chair after he rushed to the well of the House and pointed at the Chair during the Opposition's protest over Manipur violence issue. (PTI)
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge Tuesday joined the protests organised by Opposition parties against the suspension of Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, news agency ANI reported.
Singh was suspended from Rajya Sabha for the rest of the Monsoon session on Monday for repeatedly 'violating' the directives of the Chair while protesting on the Manipur issue.
Opposition parties condemned the action against Singh and accused the government of trying to throttle their voice.
The Lok Sabha passed the The Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill, before getting adjourned till 5 pm on Tuesday, news agency PTI reported.
The Bill was introduced in Parliament on December 16, 2021 by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav. The bill would amend the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
Earlier, it was moved to a joint committee on December 20, 2021 due to concerns that the amendments favoured industry and contradicted the spirit of Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), according to the report.
Submitting its report in Parliament on August 2, 2022, the joint committee suggested that the Bill may be passed after the inclusion of their recommendations.
Ministers spoke on the advantages of the amendments to the bill and said its benefit includes aligning bio-diversity with the Companies Act. Yadav said the bill is significant as the world is facing triple crisis of climate change, desertification and ecological imbalance. (PTI)
As many as 339 people died while cleaning sewers and septic tanks in India in the last five years, according to a government data, news agency PTI reported.
Responding to a question in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale said nine such deaths were recorded in 2023, 66 in 2022, 58 in 2021, 22 in 2020, 117 in 2019 and 67 deaths in 2018, according to the PTI report.
Manual scavenging is a banned practice under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation (PEMSR) Act, 2013. The Act bans the use of any individual for manually cleaning, carrying, disposing of or otherwise handling, in any manner, human excreta till its disposal. (PTI)
The government has made it mandatory for Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms to display an anti-tobacco health warning as a prominent static message at the bottom of the screen during the period of a tobacco product being displayed or used in a programme, the Rajya Sabha was told on Tuesday, news agency PTI reported.
According to the report, the government notified the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Amendment Rules, 2023 on May 31, Minister of State for Health SP Singh Baghel said in a written reply. They have to display anti-tobacco health warning as a prominent static message at the bottom of the screen during the period of display of the tobacco products or their use in the programme, and also display an audio-visual disclaimer on the ill-effects of tobacco for a minimum 20 seconds each in the beginning and middle of the programme, Baghel said in his written reply.
According to the amended rules, every publisher of online curated contents displaying tobacco products or their use has to display anti-tobacco health spots, for a minimum 30 seconds each at the beginning and middle of the programme, the report said.
Moreover, all compliance is ensured as per Rule (6) of the Amendment Rules, 2023 through an inter-ministerial committee consisting of representatives from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. (PTI)
The impasse in Lok Sabha continued on Tuesday as government and opposition leaders stuck to their stand on the issue of Manipur violence at a meeting convened by Speaker Om Birla.
While opposition floor leaders insisted on a statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government said Home Minister Amit Shah would reply to the debate on the discussion on Manipur violence.
After continued disruptions, Birla had made fresh attempts to end the logjam, parliamentary sources said after the meeting.
Since the Monsoon session began on Thursday, both the Houses have witnessed continued disruptions by the opposition demanding a statement by Modi.Deputy Leader and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Shah have told Lok Sabha that the government was ready for a discussion. (PTI)
Congress leader Digvijay Singh, says "We have never such a Prime Minister who is scared of giving answers in the Parliament and if he has so many issues with the word 'India', he should remove 'India' from BJP for India, Startup India and others. We are proud of the name 'India'." (ANI)
The Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill, 2022 has been tabled for consideration in the Lok Sabha.
Opposition leaders decend in the well of the House in Lok Sabha, hold placards reading 'India for Manipur' and 'Discussion on Manipur'.
Proceedings begin in Lok Sabha amid upraor by the Opposition.
Question Hour underway in Rajya Sabha amid uproar by the Opposition.
The central government has not enumerated caste-wise population other than Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the Census since independence, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.
Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said some political parties and a few organisations have requested to collect caste details in the forthcoming Census.
He said in the Census, the castes and tribes which are specifically notified as Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) as per the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, and the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950, as amended from time to time, are enumerated.
"The government of India has not enumerated caste-wise population other than SCs and STs in Census since independence," he said, replying to a written question. (PTI)
Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 2 pm.
Amid protests from Opposition, Jagdeep Dhankar quips 'my heart is on the left', in a bid to indicate that he will give the Opposition a chance to present their point of view.
"Your heart is quiet large, but it is only large on that (side of the ruling party) side," says Kharge.
Opposition leaders are pressing for the suspension of Question Hour to discuss the crisis in Manipur, point at 51 suspension notices under rule 267.
"Today, Manipur is burning. We are talking about Manipur, the PM is talking about 'East India'," says Kharge.
Chariman Jagdeep Dhankar resumes proceedings in Rajya Sabha in backdrop of Opposition protests over the Manipur issue.
The oppositon leaders are chanting 'Modi sarkar jawaab do, Pradhaan mantri jawaad do' (Give us answers Modi government, give us answers PM Modi).
The proceedings in the Rajya Sabha begin for a second time amid chants of 'Manipur, Manipur'.
BJP MP Manoj Tiwari claims, "They (Opposition) do not want to have a discussion in the Parliament. They only want to create drama. The government should ignore this 'hungama' and pass their Bills."
On Sanjay Singh's suspension, the leader says, "He (Sanjay Singh) has reached the Upper House but his behaviour is that of a 'sadak ka lafanga', he should follow rules inside the Parliament." (ANI)
Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 12 pm.
Leader of House Piyush Goyal addresses Rajya Sabha amid protests by the Opposition, and urges the House to 'discuss the issues of atrocities against women in Rajasthan, Chattisgarh.'
"The government is ready for discussion on the 177 notices of the atrocities against women and children in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. All over the country, if there is a crime against women, the government is ready for discussion. We should have discussions on these issuesm" he says.
AAP MP Raghav Chadha addresses the Rajya Sabha and says "Yesterday, before the suspension motion of AAP MP Sanjay Singh was passed, I requested you to conduct voting for the same... I seek division right now on the suspension of Sanjay Singh."
Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar rejected his plea and started business of the House. Papers are being laid on the table amid a ruckus by the Opposition.
As the logjam in Parliament continued for a fourth day, the Opposition parties decided to bring a no confidence motion in Lok Sabha. Meanwhile, the LS was adjourned till 2 pm amid uproar by the Opposition members over Manipur issue, who have been demanding a statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on situation of the violence hit state.
With the government not agreeing to the opposition's demand that Prime Minister Narendra Modi make a statement on Manipur, the Opposition believe a no-confidence motion will force the Prime Minister to speak.
Like-minded Opposition floor leaders meeting concludes at the Rajya Sabha LoP chamber in Parliament. Opposition parties have decided that they will continue their demand for PM's statement on Manipur in both Houses, reports ANI.
Leaders of the opposition alliance INDIA on Tuesday met in the Parliament complex to chalk out their strategy in both houses, and were expected to intensify their demand for a statement from the prime minister on Manipur violence.
LoP Rajya Sabha and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge speaks to ANI enroute an Opposition meeting, and says 'he will all take a decision (regarding the Manipur).'
Rajya Sabha MPs Raghav Chadha, K Keshava Rao, KR Suresh Reddy, Joginipalli Santosh Kumar, Badugula Lingaiah Yadav, Ranjeet Ranjan, Manoj Jha, Syed Naseer Hussain, Tiruchi Siva, Imran Pratapgadhi and Rajiv Shukla give suspension of Business Notice in Rajya Sabha under rule 267 and demand discussion on ongoing violence in Manipur. (ANI)
AAP MP Raghav Chadha, says "The only demand of the opposition parties is that we want a discussion on the Manipur issue. It is sad that this issue is being discussed internationally but not in India...Manipur CM N Biren Singh should be removed and President's rule should be imposed in the state... AAP is going to raise the issue of Manipur across the country." (ANI)
Congress MP Manickam Tagore says, "Prime Ministers always make statements in Parliament...Why is the Prime Minister afraid to make a statement on Manipur in Parliament? We request with folded hands to the Prime Minister to make a statement on Manipur. Manipur is a very sensitive issue and the Parliament must send a positive and peaceful message...We should not do politics compared with other states' rape issues...Manipur is a bigger issue." (ANI)
AAP MP Sanjay Singh, who sat on an overnight sit-in protest in the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday, says, "Why is the Prime Minister silent on such a sensitive issue like Manipur? We are only demanding him to come to Parliament and speak on this issue. I will not comment on Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar for suspending me as he is not someone related to politics, he is the Vice President. It is our responsibility to raise the issue of Manipur in Parliament."
Rajya Sabha MP and Mahila Congress President, Jebi Mather says, 'We want to give the biggest message. Sanjay Singh is not alone. The entire Opposition is together. If the ruling dispensation, the NDA and the government think that by suspending one of our MPs, they can threaten us...Repeatedly we want to say that our demands will continue. The Prime Minister should come to Parliament and make a statement about Manipur, followed by a detailed discussion.'
These Bills will be tabled for for consideration and passing:
- The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Fifth Amendment) Bill, 2022
- The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Third Amendment) Bill, 2022
- The Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023
These Bill will be presented for for consideration and passing:
- The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2022
- The Multi-State Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2022
- The Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill, 2022
AS IT stalls Parliament demanding a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the situation in Manipur, the Opposition’s hope is to put the PM on the mat on three fronts that his government prides on: law and order, double engine government, and women’s welfare.
Opposition leaders say that the shock of the video showing women being paraded naked and sexually assaulted in Manipur makes the fact that it happened in distant Northeast, which is mostly away from the national political discourse, irrelevant.
Careful to not step into the Meitei-Kuki faultline in the state, the Opposition is framing the breakdown of Manipur law and order as a failure of the BJP government in the state as well as an abdication of responsibility by the PM, who first spoke up about the crisis in the state after the video surfaced, nearly three months into the violence. (Read More)
AAP MP Sanjay Singh was on Monday suspended from Rajya Sabha for the rest of the Monsoon session for repeatedly 'violating' the directives of the Chair while protesting on the Manipur issue.
Opposition parties condemned the action against Singh and accused the government of trying to throttle their voice:
? Congress Prez Mallikarjun Kharge said this is not the first time that an MP has stepped into the well of the house and protested and demanded that it should be revoked.
? In a tweet, the Trinamool Congress said, 'Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh suspended by the Chairman of Rajya Sabha for the entire monsoon session just for asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak on Manipur in Parliament.' 'The decision blatantly subverts the very essence of democracy, laying bare the fact that the BJP-led Central government is shamelessly employing every conceivable tactic to avoid any meaningful discussion on the Manipur issue.
? 'If in a democracy the opposition and the government are unable to debate in Parliament, then what is the meaning of democracy? I want to ask what crime did Sanjay Singh commit that he was suspended. Is it an offence to raise the demand for a discussion on Manipur? 'If it is an offence then not just Sanjay Singh but the entire opposition should be suspended. The Parliament proceedings were painful. We oppose and condemn this and urge the chairman to reconsider his decision of suspending Sanjay Singh,' Raghav Chadha said.
? Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi said, 'Ever since the INDIA alliance has been formed, they are worried and wanted to create such an atmosphere where the voice of opposition leaders is throttled. (PTI)
As Parliament remained in deadlock over the Manipur issue Monday, the Rajasthan Assembly passed a resolution urging the Central government to take steps to contain incidents of violence in Manipur and restore peace. The West Bengal Assembly will discuss the matter during the ongoing Monsoon Session, it was decided at an all-party meeting.
Under attack over the sexual assault of Manipur women caught on video, the BJP has been trying to corner Opposition-ruled states over crimes against women, including Rajasthan and West Bengal. (Read More)
Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar interacted with the Leader of Opposition (Rajya Sabha) Mallikarjun Kharge in his chamber at Parliament today.
Deadlock persisted in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha as both sides refused to budge from their stand, with the Opposition parties insisting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should first give a statement on the floor of the House.
Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned till tomorrow.
? After his suspension from Rajya Sabha, AAP MP Sanjay Singh on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of running away from speaking on the Manipur violence in Parliament.
? “Rising from my seat, I was repeatedly requesting the Chair (Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar) for discussion on Manipur violence and demanding that the prime minister come to the House and give a reply,” Singh told reporters at the Parliament complex after his suspension.
? “When the Chair didn't listen to me, I went closer to the Chair to request him to allow me to speak under Rule 267 for which I had given a notice,” he said.
? “Rising from their seats, everybody was requesting the government and the Chair for discussion on Manipur and demanding that the prime minister come to the House and give a reply on the issue,” he said.
? “If this House is not for speaking on Manipur violence-like incidents and if they cannot give reply... I would only say that the prime minister is a shameless, coward and cruel ruler with whom we are ready to fight,” Singh said.
? 'The opposition parties have been demanding a discussion on the Manipur violence and a reply from the prime minister on the floor of the House on the issue, but PM Modi is running away from it. The prime minister is not ready to speak on that,” the AAP MP charged. (PTI)
Union Minister Smriti Irani today said, "Congress is running away from discussion on Manipur as they know they will have to answer on crimes against women in their states but I want to appeal that stop using crime against women as instruments to settle political scores..."