Don’t compare us to Manipur, situation your failure: Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh CMs

Reacting sharply, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot tweeted: “Nothing is more important to us than the safety and dignity of women. After the gruesome gang rape in Jodhpur, the three accused were arrested in just two hours. Whereas BJP took 77 days to nab just one accused in the shameful incident of Manipur. Time to answer on crime: Congress — two hours, BJP — 77 days.”

अत्यंत दुख की बात है कि मणिपुर में हिंसा बंद होने का नाम नहीं ले रही। इससे पूरा देश चिंतित है।

भाजपा की लापरवाही की वजह से मणिपुर में अभी तक 142 लोगों की मृत्यु हो चुकी है।

मणिपुर को देख कर राजस्थान में लोग पूछ रहे हैं कि भाजपा की सरकारों को कानून व्यवस्था चलाना क्यों नहीं…

— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) July 20, 2023

Gehlot was referring to the July 16 gang rape by three students of a minor Dalit girl on the campus of Jai Narain Vyas University in Jodhpur. The accused, who allegedly held the girl’s male friend, also a minor, captive while committing the crime, were arrested by the police shortly after the incident.

Gehlot also said that it was due to the “negligence” of the BJP that 142 people were dead in the Manipur violence. “It is very sad that the violence in Manipur is not stopping. The whole country is worried about this… Seeing Manipur, people in Rajasthan are asking do BJP governments not know how to run law and order?” the CM tweeted in Hindi.

Speaking with the media at the Chhattisgarh Vidhan Sabha Thursday, CM Bhupesh Baghel slammed the PM for dragging in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan while speaking about Manipur. “Manipur has been burning for the past three months, but Prime Ministerji did not speak about it even once. For the first time he spoke about the incident. He did not speak about Manipur but instead roped in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. Even when he or Amit Shah came to Chhattisgarh, they did not mention law and order as an issue. But now he is comparing Manipur to Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh as elections are nearing in these two states. He did not speak a word on crimes occurring on the premises of Uttar Pradesh courts and hospitals, nor on treatment of tribals in Madhya Pradesh,” Baghel said.

The CM also asked why Modi had not visited Manipur despite the continuing violence. “He went on foreign visits and campaigned (for his party) in Chhattisgarh and Karnataka, but did not visit Manipur. He just wants to deviate people from the Manipur issue. He is comparing Manipur to a state which is peaceful. He should stop lying and throwing phrases,” Baghel said.

In his customary pre-Parliament Session remarks, PM Modi Thursday said he was pained by the incidents of Manipur, adding: “Be it Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Manipur or any part of the country, maintaining law and order and respecting women should be above politics.”