Journalism of Courage
With the BJP pointing to alleged incidents of sexual assault in Rajasthan, among other Opposition-ruled states, to counter condemnation over the Manipur video of tribal women being paraded naked and assaulted, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot Saturday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for visiting poll-bound Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh rather than the strife-torn state of Manipur.
Reacting to the PM’s statement on Manipur, where he also drew attention to incidents in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, Gehlot said: “The manner in which the PM behaved and expressed grief, and said that I would like to tell the CMs of Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Manipur to take care… this is an attack on Rajasthan’s pride. (The PM said) 140 crore people are ashamed. No, they are not ashamed but are saddened by the actions, failures and negligence of your government.”
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan blamed “Sangh Parivar agenda” for Manipur being reduced to “a riot zone”. In a statement issued in Thiruvananthapuram, Vijayan said the Sangh Parivar has been sowing hatred in Manipur. “What is happening under the guise of a riot is a Christian hunt. Churches of Christian tribal groups have been attacked and destroyed in a concerted manner,” he said.
“The secular, democratic society in the country should realise the Sangh Parivar agenda which has converted Manipur into a riot zone by sowing hatred” for political benefit, he added.
Addressing a press conference at his residence, Gehlot said: “As many as 77 days passed and you (the PM) did not speak on Manipur… And the manner in which you conducted yourself after getting an indication from the Supreme Court… you finished your statement within seconds, as if fulfilling a formality. I am saddened that Manipur is burning, so many people have died… no one knows how many people have died. Some people are also saying thousands have died. The Manipur CM himself is saying that you are talking of one incident while there have been hundreds of such cases.”
Asking why the PM had not visited Manipur yet, Gehlot said: “If you were not going, you could have called a meeting in the PMO and regularly taken updates on what is happening and how to control it. But you are roaming in Karnataka (and election-bound) Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.”
Gehlot added: “The PM’s post has a certain dignity and they (the BJP) have a government (in Manipur). Imagine what all he would have spoken if there was a Congress government… It is very saddening.”
Asked about him sacking minister Rajendra Gudha hours after he had spoken about crimes against women in Rajasthan on the floor of the Assembly, Gehlot said: “It is an internal matter of our party. And we will discuss it as it suits us.”
Referring to the Manipur video of tribal women, Pinarayi said the visuals were shocking. “Extremely horrifying images… are repeatedly coming from Manipur,” the Kerala CM said.
“The people who are duty bound to restore peace are trying to fuel the violence,” he added, and said that the criminal silence of the Union government and the agenda of the Sangh Parivar were now under attack. “It is the responsibility of all those who believe in democracy that attempts against communal polarisation should be defeated.”
