New Delhi: The monsoon session of parliament begins on Thursday (June 20). The session comes at a time when there is large-scale shock and anger across the country at a video which has emerged from Manipur, showing two Kuki women being paraded naked. One of the women was allegedly gangraped.
The women in the video told The Wire that the Manipur police were present and did nothing to help or stop the mob attacking them.
On Wednesday evening, after the harrowing video of the women went viral on social media, opposition parties demanded that the matter be discussed in parliament immediately. “Tomorrow Parliament’s monsoon session will start and it will end on Aug 11th. Will the Modi Govt allow for a discussion on the continuing horrific tragedy which is destroying the delicate social fabric of Manipur? Will the PM break his silence and take the nation into confidence on the way forward towards reconciliation? Debate alone is not enough. As I had said on June 12th, Parliament is the forum for PM’s Manipur ki Baat. This is a non-negotiable demand of INDIA,” Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said on Twitter. INDIA – Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance – the front of 26 opposition parties formed to take on the BJP in 2024.
The Trinamool Congress has also said it will be bringing up the issue in parliament.
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has said he will be moving a motion for adjournment of business of the Lok Sabha in order to focus discussions on Manipur.
“Since May 2023, Manipur has been the site of widespread violence and devastation. The violence has displaced nearly 55,000 people, who have sought refuge in over 103 military garrisons and relief camps. So far, nearly 150 people have died in the conflict, and nearly 5,000 arson incidents have been reported. In the state, which has a population of 32 lakh, 124 paramilitary convoys and 184 army columns are stationed. There is widespread distrust and alienation among residents of both the hills and the valley. There has been no genuine effort by the Union Government to mediate peace between the Meiti and Kuki communities. The role of the Hon”ble Prime Minister is widely regarded as ineffective by all Manipur residents,” Gogoi said in a letter to the secretary-general of the Lok Sabha.
“I am requesting permission to bring this up,” he continued.
Parliamentary affairs minister Prahlad Joshi has reportedly responded by saying that the government was willing to discuss all issues, given that the chair of the house allowed it. “Opposition parties have given many suggestions and our alliance leaders have also made a few recommendations. All parties have demanded for a debate on Manipur. The government is ready to discuss all the issues following the rules and regulations and with the permission of the chair in both houses of Parliament,” Joshi said, according to The Hindu.