'INDIA's Non-Negotiable Demand': Opposition Seeks Parliament Debate On Manipur Women Being Paraded Naked

The Opposition parties condemned the incident and demanded a discussion in the Parliament's monsoon session.

The incident took place on May 4 in Kangpokpi district, some 35 km from the state capital Imphal. ( Image Source :PTI )

New Delhi: Hours after a horrifying video of two women being paraded naked by a few men in Manipur went viral, the Opposition parties condemned the incident and demanded a discussion in the Parliament's monsoon session, which will start from tomorrow.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that it is INDIA's non-negotiable demand.

Taking to Twitter, Ramesh said, "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."

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…

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) July 19, 2023

Rahul Gandhi blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the incident, saying that his silence and inaction has led the violence-hit state 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," he tweeted.

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.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 19, 2023

The Manipur Police in a tweet said a case of abduction, gang rape, and murder has been registered at Nongpok Sekmai police station in Thoubal district against unknown armed miscreants.

Condemning the incident, Aam Aadmi Party said, "The Aam Aadmi Party condemns this horrifying and continued ordeal of the helpless people of Manipur."

"The inaction of the State and the Central government is painful for all the citizens of the country. We again request the intervention of the Prime Minister in Manipur. Turning a blind eye to the problem will not make it go away," the party said in a statement.

Our statement on the horrifying video from #Manipur pic.twitter.com/HbNstAH0jA

— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) July 19, 2023

"The video of a woman paraded naked, sexually assaulted in Manipur is disturbing and triggering to say the least. This is our collective shame. What is CM of Manipur even doing? Just what will it take for PM @narendramodi  to speak up? Why has HM @AmitShah not resigned already?" Congress leader Ruchira Chaturvedi tweeted.

According to a spokesperson of ITLF, the "despicable scene, which happened on May 4 in Kangpokpi district, shows men constantly molesting the helpless women, who cry and plead with their captors.

"The horrifying ordeal suffered by these innocent women is amplified by the perpetrators' decision to share the video, which shows the identity of the victims, on social media." 

Manipur state has been witnessing ethnic clashes since May 3 between the majority the Meiteis, concentrated in Imphal valley, and the Kukis, occupying the hills. Over 160 people have been killed in the violence so far.