IMPHAL: The newly resurrected Congress-led alliance – the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) – has turned the heat on the ruling BJP over the unabated crisis in the Northeast state of Manipur.
The opposition parties, under INDIA, on Thursday (July 20), launched a scathing attack on the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) over the crisis in Manipur during the first day of the monsoon session of the Parliament.
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The opposition parties’ attack on the ruling BJP-led NDA government at the Centre followed nation-wide outrage over the video that showed two Kuki women in Manipur being paraded naked, molested and gang-raped by a mob of unruly Meitei men.
The Congress-led INDIA questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the sorry state of affairs in the Northeast state of Manipur and also his stoic silence on the crisis over the past almost three months.
Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who earlier visited the violence-ravaged Northeast state of Manipur, strongly criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his silence and inaction towards the violence in the state.
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Rahul Gandhi said: “PM’s silence and inaction has led Manipur into anarchy. INDIA will not stay silent while the idea of India is being attacked in Manipur. We stand with the people of Manipur. Peace is the only way forward.”
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal also condemned the acts of violence and sexual assault perpetrated on the two Kuki women in Manipur, calling it a “henious act.”
“The incident in Manipur is very shameful and condemnable. This kind of heinous act cannot be tolerated in Indian society. The situation in Manipur is becoming very worrying. I appeal to the Prime Minister to pay attention to the situation in Manipur,” Kejriwal said.
Also read: Manipur | Police present on spot but did not intervene: Women in video
Tamil Nadu chief minister and DMK leader MK Stalin also issued a statement condemning the act of sexual assault on the two Kuki women in Manipur demanding intervention of the central government in restoring peace in the state.
Stalin said: “Absolutely heartbroken and appalled by the agonising violence unleashed on women in Manipur. Where is our collective conscience? The hate and venom are uprooting the very soul of humanity. The union government should take all necessary steps to restore peace in Manipur.”
TMC MP Mahua Moitra, calling the Modi-led BJP government ‘satanic’, said: “Ashamed and horrified at Manipur visuals. When will this satanic government take responsibility? When will Manipur CM resign? When will Maun Guru (Modi) stop with state dinners abroad and speak about Manipur?”
Meanwhile, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge solely blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the pathetic law-and-order situation in Manipur, where, he said, democracy has been uprooded leading to a rule of ‘mobocracy’.
“Humanity has died in Manipur. Modi government and the BJP has 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,” Kharge said.
With pressure mounting on the PM and the BJP-led central government over the appalling situation in Manipur, Narendra Modi, finally after 77 days, broke his stoic silence and spoke on the ongoing Manipur violence.
PM Modi said that that 140 crore Indians were put to shame by the incident, where two Kuki women were paraded naked by a mob of Meitei men at Kangpokpi district of Manipur on May 4.
While the incident is nearly two months old, the Prime Minister made a statement only after the video of the victims surfaced online.
Also read: PM Narendra Modi says his heart is ‘full of pain’ over video of women paraded naked in Manipur
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address expressed deep ‘anguish’ and promised that the culprits would face the full force of the law.
PM Modi said that his heart has been “full of pain and anger” following the incident.
“What has happened to the daughters of Manipur can never be forgiven”, he added.
The PM further assured that justice would prevail and no guilty party involved in this heinous crime would be spared.
Meanwhile, under fire Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh stated that the state government is “considering the possibility of capital punishment” for those involved in parading two Kuki women naked.
Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh also informed that a “thorough investigation” into the case is underway.
“A thorough investigation is currently underway and we will ensure strict action is taken against all the perpetrators, including considering the possibility of capital punishment,” Manipur CM Biren Singh said.
It may be mentioned here that a disturbing video surfaced on social media showing two Kuki women being paraded naked on a road by a group of men from the Meitei community.
The victims had also been allegedly subjected to gang rape in a nearby field.
The distressing video shows a mob of men molesting the two helpless Kuki women as they are forcibly taken toward a paddy field.
Reacting to the video, Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh said: “My hearts go out to the two women who were subjected to a deeply disrespectful and inhumane act, as shown in the distressing video that surfaced yesterday.”
Notably, the Manipur police has already arrested a person in connection with the case on Thursday (July 20) morning.
“After taking a Suo-moto cognisance of the incident immediately after the video surfaced, the Manipur police swung to action and made the first arrest this morning,” informed Manipur CM Biren Singh.
He added: “Let it be known, there is absolutely no place for such heinous acts in our society.”
Meanwhile, a day after the disturbing video of two Kuki women being paraded naked in Manipur by a mob went viral, the Supreme Court strongly denounced it labelling it a “gross constitutional failure”.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, on Thursday (July 20), called upon the government to take immediate action to ensure the safety of women in the region and requested regular updates on the steps being taken.
Warning of the top court’s intervention if the government fails to act, the CJI set a date of July 28 to take up the case.