NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke for the first time on Thursday about the distressing situation in Manipur expressing his pain and anger over women being paraded naked. He described it as a shameful act that has deeply affected 140 crore Indians. He assured that the law would act with full force, and those responsible would not escape justice.
"My heart is full of pain and anger," Modi told reporters amid criticism by Opposition parties for not speaking. "What has happened to these daughters of Manipur can never be forgiven," he said ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
The Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud also took cognisance of the video and demanded immediate action, calling it "unacceptable in a constitutional democracy."
"I think it is time that the government really steps in and takes action because this is simply unacceptable," the CJI said, adding, "We will give a little time to the government to act, otherwise we will take action if nothing is happening on the ground."
“We are very deeply disturbed by the videos which have emerged yesterday about the way those two women were paraded in Manipur," said the bench, also comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha and Manoj Misra.
Justice Chandrachud said using women as an instrument to perpetrate violence in an area of communal strife is "deeply disturbing" and this is "simply unacceptable". He also termed it the "grossest" Constitutional and human rights violation. The CJI added that the court is conscious of the fact that the video is of May 4 but that makes no difference.
Union home minister Amit Shah spoke to Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, urging thorough investigations and strict action against the perpetrators.
The incident involving the two women in Manipur's Senapati district sparked nationwide outrage, leading to protests inside and outside Parliament. The main accused has been arrested and a case of abduction, gangrape, and murder has been registered.
Both the Manipur Chief Minister and the Mizoram Chief Minister condemned the incident and demanded swift action to address the situation. The National Commission for Women (NCW) has also taken suo motu cognizance of the matter, calling for prompt action by the Manipur police chief.
The government has requested social media platforms to remove the video in question as the matter is under investigation. The violence in Manipur has resulted in over 150 deaths and several injuries since May 3, when ethnic violence erupted in response to a 'Tribal Solidarity March' opposing the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
The situation remains tense in the state, with Meiteis and tribals residing in separate areas, highlighting the need for immediate and effective measures to address the conflict and ensure safety and justice for all residents.
Despite the government's assurance that it was ready to discuss the Manipur issue, both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha failed to transact any business as the Opposition members created uproar.
With the Opposition MPs shouting slogans such as "Manipur Manipur" and "Manipur is burning", Parliament witnessed frequent adjournments before finally adjourning for the day.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge demanded the sacking of Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh and the imposition of President’s Rule in the northeastern state.
Kharge said that "humanity has died in Manipur" and asked the PM to speak about the ethnic violence-hit state in Parliament and tell the nation what happened. The Congress chief accused Mr Modi of having "abdicated" his constitutional responsibility.
Earlier on Thursday morning, several Opposition leaders met Mr Kharge in his chamber in the Parliament complex to chalk out a strategy for the Monsoon Session and demanded the Prime Minister's statement on Manipur violence in both Houses, followed by a discussion on the issue.
Though the Opposition regularly meets during the Parliament sessions to prepare a joint strategy, Thursday’s meeting was the first following the formation of their alliance, "INDIA".
The Congress also accused the Prime Minister of playing politics by mentioning Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh while "breaking his silence" on the northeastern state. The party said that the Prime Minister's statement was "too little, too late" and "mere words won't do anymore".
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said after more than 1,800 hours of an "incomprehensible and unforgivable silence", the Prime Minister finally spoke on Manipur for a total of 30 seconds.
Ramesh said: "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 against women in states like Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat".
In response, the BJP questioned the Opposition's intentions, asking whether they genuinely wanted a discussion on the sensitive issue or merely sought to have their egos massaged by dictating the rules of the discussion.
The government informed Parliament that it was ready for discussion on any issue, including the Manipur incident, but the Opposition led by the Congress in the Rajya Sabha kept demanding the issue be taken under Rule 267, allowing suspension of the day’s business to debate the issue.
Asserting that the government was ready for a discussion on the Manipur issue, Union minister and Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha Piyush Goyal said the Opposition has made it clear that it has made up its mind to not let Parliament function. Mr Goyal said the Opposition parties were "running away" from a discussion on Manipur as they felt that incidents of "misbehaviour" with women in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan may also come up.
"Perhaps there is something wrong in their heart. They are worried because there were incidents of violence (during panchayat polls) in Bengal and also because there are unfortunate situations in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan," Mr Goyal told reporters outside Parliament.
Questioning the Congress’s approach on the sensitive issue, senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad asked, "Do you want the genuine discussion or do you want your ego to be massaged on the rules under which discussion would take place? For the Opposition, discussion on the Manipur incident is not important, but the clause (on which to be discussed) is."
