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Journalism of Courage
After a video showing two women from the Kuki-Zomi community being paraded naked by a mob of men in Manipur triggered widespread outrage, a united Opposition Thursday demanded a suo motu statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in both Houses of Parliament.
They also said PM Modi’s statement on the incident must be followed by a discussion on the situation in the state which has been rocked by ethnic violence since May.
While the government has signalled that it was ready for a discussion on Manipur, the Opposition parties will insist on the Prime Minister’s presence and a statement by him before the discussion.
Floor leaders of various Opposition parties met at Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge’s chamber. The Congress and other Opposition parties had been questioning the silence of the Prime Minister on the violence in Manipur.
On Thursday, PM Modi broke his silence on the issue and said his heart was full of pain and anger over the “shameful” incident of women paraded naked and asserted “I assure the countrymen that no culprit will be spared. The law with all its might will take one step after another.”
Kharge and several members of the Opposition have given notices in both Houses of Parliament seeking a discussion on the situation in Manipur suspending all other business. Kharge said Manipur had been witnessing violence for the last 80 days but PM Modi had been silent on the issue.
“He has visited foreign countries…France, Egypt…but Manipur is not on his mind. He could have visited Manipur… At least held a meeting and appealed for peace and consoled them. Women are being raped in Manipur… Women are being beaten up on the roads… Their houses are being looted… Women are being gangraped… All this is happening…but Modi is not bothered,” Kharge said.
He said the Prime Minister has time to call a meeting of 38 parties but could not spare time to visit Manipur. “In the last 80 days…he has addressed election rallies…. Election campaigns should be done once elections are announced…. he is addressing elections meetings using government expenditure but he is not bothered about Manipur. This means he is not interested in being in the midst of the people consoling them and finding a solution to their problem… Because he wants conflict,” Kharge alleged.
In a tweet, Kharge said, the “Modi government and the BJP have changed democracy and the rule of law into Mobocracy by destroying the delicate social fabric of the state”.
“Narendra Modi ji, India will never forgive your silence. If there is any conscience or an iota of shame left in your government, then you should speak about Manipur in the Parliament and tell the nation what happened without blaming others for your dual incompetence — both at the Centre and the state,” he added.
Among the leaders who have given notices demanding discussion on the Manipur issue, include Kharge, Naseer Hussain, Manish Tewari, Jothimani of the Congress, Manoj K Jha of the RJD, Priyanka Chaturvedi of the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Nama Nageswara Rao of the BRS.
In a post on Twitter, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the Prime Minister’s statement was “too little too late”. Ramesh said the “demand of the 26-party INDIA is very clear” that PM Modi should make a statement on “the horrific and tragic developments” in Manipur in both Houses of Parliament, “after which there should be a discussion”. “This is the first order of business”.
Pointing out that the Prime Minister “finally spoke” on Manipur for “a sum total of 30 seconds” after ‘more than 1800 hours of an incomprehensible and unforgivable silence,” Ramesh said, “After which, the PM tried to divert attention from the colossal governance failures and the humanitarian tragedy in Manipur by equating crimes against women in other states, especially those governed by the Opposition while ignoring atrocities on women in states like MP, UP and Gujarat”.
“Firstly, he completely sidestepped the issue of the ongoing ethnic conflict. He has made no appeal for peace, nor asked for the CM of Manipur to step down. While he has commented on this one video that has surfaced, this is only one example of the hundreds of incidents of barbaric violence in the state of Manipur,” Ramesh said.
“Secondly, the PM tried to equate systemic and ongoing violence in Manipur with cases of crimes against women in other states. The perpetrators of these crimes have been arrested in Congress-governed states within 24 hours. In Manipur, it took 15 days to register an FIR against unknown persons and today, 64 days later, for the CM of Manipur to claim that arrests have been made. There has been a complete and total collapse of law & order and administration in Manipur,” he further added.
“This is too little too late. Mere words won’t do anymore. Actions must speak louder. The Prime Minister and the Home Minister cannot escape accountability. The Chief Minister of Manipur should step down immediately,” Ramesh said, adding that “INDIA will continue to demand answers — to ensure a path towards peace and reconciliation in Manipur.”
