New Delhi: Faced with a united opposition over the Manipur ethnic conflict, the Modi government swung into action Thursday to manage the narrative both inside and outside Parliament after a video of Kuki women numbed the entire country.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the lead as he finally spoke — outside Parliament on the opening day of Monsoon session — on the ethnic conflict to condemn sexual atrocities in Manipur.
“What has happened to daughters of Manipur can never be forgiven. The guilty will not be spared,” he said. Modi also appealed to all the heads of states to ensure the safety of women, adding that the episode was “shameful for any civilised nation”.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah dialed Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh to take firm steps following which the state administration came out with announcements of actions taken in connection with the over two-month-old video from Kangpokpi district.
The ruling party’s top leadership sought to blunt the opposition onslaught by raising crimes against women reported in the Congress-ruled Rajasthan. It also accused the opposition of running away from debate while stating that the government was ready for a debate on the Manipur situation in Parliament.
This was after the Opposition parties sought a suo motu statement from the PM in both Houses of Parliament along with a discussion on the situation in Manipur, which has been on the boil since May. Several opposition MPs have given notices seeking discussion on the Manipur situation suspending all other House business.
I&B Minister Anurag Thakur blamed the opposition for not allowing the Parliament to function and deploying diversionary tactics to avoid discussion on the Manipur situation.
“Why is the opposition party avoiding (discussion)? Why do they want to run away from it? In Rajasthan, 33,000 rape cases have been reported. The Congress only sees rape in Manipur. Why is Sonia Gandhi silent against atrocities happening in Rajasthan? Why are the opposition parties not speaking about atrocities in Rajasthan? Why are they silent? Why are you segregating Manipur and Rajasthan? Congress wants to do politics on Manipur. The PM condemned the incident. We are ready for discussion, but discussion should also take place about Rajasthan,” Thakur told ThePrint.
Later in the day, former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told a media briefing that the Centre is open to deliberation but the Congress party doesn’t believe in discussion. The senior BJP leader also highlighted the cases of atrocities against in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.
As the opposition remained adamant on the prime minister making a statement inside the House, the government too struck a hardline asserting that the Union home minister would speak on the issue.
“When the issue comes under the home ministry, the opposition’s demand for the statement by the PM is nothing but politically motivated. They want immediate discussion, but it’s up to the presiding office to decide the timing of discussion. We are hopeful that in a day-two, they will come to the table for discussion,” a BJP floor leader told ThePrint.
Also Read: ‘No one wants to talk about rapes in Manipur. There’s a silence at the heart of the violence
Both Houses disrupted
Earlier in the day, the government said it was ready for discussion on every issue, including Manipur, permitted under rules and approved by the Chair.
When the Lok Sabha resumed after the first half of adjournment, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi informed the House about the government’s willingness to discuss Manipur. “The issue is very sensitive. Let the presiding officers in both Houses decide the timing of discussion. The home minister will reply to the discussion in detail. Let the Speaker decide the date of discussion,” he said.
The opposition members sought immediate suspension of business to discuss the Manipur situation but the demand was turned down by the Lok Sabha Speaker and the Rajya Sabha chairman.
After the first adjournment, the Rajya Sabha met in the afternoon but Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge protested after the Chairman allowed I&B Minister Anurag Thakur to introduce a Bill to amend the Cinematograph Act, 1952.
“I am not being given a chance to speak despite giving a notice in the morning under Rule 267. You know Manipur is burning. Women are being raped, paraded naked, but the prime minister is keeping quiet and is giving statement outside,” Kharge protested.
Rule 267 of the Rajya Sabha rule book allows for suspension of day’s business to debate the issue suggested by a member of the Upper House.
“He (Modi) has visited France, Egypt but Manipur is not in his mind. He could have visited Manipur, or at least held a meeting and appealed for peace. …but Modi is not bothered. Narendra Modi ji, India will never forgive you. If there is any conscience or an iota of shame left in your government, then you should speak about Manipur in Parliament and tell the nation what happened without blaming others for your incompetence, both at Centre and the state,” Kharge tweeted later.
Attacking the government for not allowing discussion in the Rajya Sabha, TMC MP Derek O’ Brien contended that “no business can be transacted till matter submitted under Rule 267 is discussed”.
“Where is the prime minister? Why is he hiding?” he asked.
(Edited by Tony Rai)