| 20 July 2023
In the wake of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent address on the disturbing incident of women being paraded naked in Manipur, the Congress party has launched a scathing attack on him, criticizing the timing and content of his statement. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh accused the Prime Minister of indulging in political maneuvering while neglecting the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur. The incident, which occurred two months ago and surfaced in a shocking video, has garnered widespread condemnation and raised questions about accountability and justice.
The horrifying video, which came to light on Wednesday, depicts two women from different communities being paraded naked by a group of men in violence-hit Manipur. The incident occurred on May 4 amidst clashes between the valley-majority Meitei and hill-majority Kuki tribes over the Meiteis' demand for Scheduled Tribes (ST) status. Tragically, one of the women was gang-raped, and her brother lost his life while attempting to intervene. The video sparked national shock and outrage, prompting the Supreme Court to condemn it as a "deeply disturbing" display of "gross constitutional failure."
The Prime Minister's delayed response to the Manipur incident, which occurred over 1800 hours ago, has drawn criticism from Congress leader Jairam Ramesh. In a tweet, Ramesh stated that PM Modi's 30-second address on the matter was "too little, too late," and accused him of attempting to divert attention from governance failures and the humanitarian tragedy in Manipur. Ramesh further contended that PM Modi equated the Manipur incident with crimes against women in other states, neglecting the systemic and ongoing violence in Manipur. The Congress leader emphasized the need for actions, not just words, to address the situation effectively.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh demanded that both PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah be held accountable for their handling of the Manipur violence. He criticized the Prime Minister for sidestepping the issue of ongoing ethnic conflicts and failing to appeal for peace in the region. Ramesh pointed out that in Congress-governed states, perpetrators of similar crimes were swiftly arrested, whereas it took 15 days to register an FIR in Manipur, and arrests were only claimed after 64 days.
The Congress leader called for the immediate resignation of Manipur's Chief Minister, N Biren Singh, holding him responsible for the collapse of law and order and administration in the state. Ramesh asserted that India's opposition coalition would continue to demand answers and strive for peace and reconciliation in Manipur.
The Supreme Court expressed deep concern over the Manipur incident, labeling it a "gross constitutional failure." The Chief Justice warned that if the government failed to take appropriate action, the court would intervene, with a scheduled hearing on July 28. Police have already made arrests based on the viral video, and the government has directed social media platforms not to circulate the footage further, stating that the matter is under investigation.
The Manipur incident has brought forth an urgent need for accountability and justice, with widespread public outrage and condemnation. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his delayed response and alleged political maneuvering, stressing the importance of concrete actions to address the systemic issues in Manipur. As the nation demands justice for the victims, the Supreme Court's upcoming hearing could prove crucial in ensuring accountability and reconciliation in the troubled state.
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