The house of Huirem Herodas Meitei, the main accused in the sexual assault case was burnt down by an agitated mob comprising mostly women
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on the Manipur violence says, "I feel the opposition is not serious about the discussion on the Manipur issue. The government wants to discuss the Manipur issue. PM Modi himself said that the country is ashamed of whatever has happened in the state and assured strict action. Still, if the opposition does not want to discuss it only means that they are not serious."
Manipur CM N Biren Singh says, "People are protesting across the state regarding the incident and demanding the strictest punishment for the accused.
Accused number one, who was arrested earlier, his house was burnt by women yesterday. Manipur society is against crime against women.
They consider women as their mothers. This protest is to support the government to punish the accused."
When asked to respond on calls for his resignation over the law and order situation in Manipur, CM N Biren Singh says, "I don't want to go into this. My job is to bring peace to the state. Miscreants are there in every society but we will not spare them."
Many Opposition MPs in Rajya Sabha have demanded discussions under Rule 267. The last time it was used was in November 2016, when the Upper House invoked Rule 267 to discuss demonetisation.
The Rajya Sabha has not allowed debates or discussions under this for many months.
Under Rajya Sabha's Rule 267, “any member, may, with the consent of the Chairman, move that any rule may be suspended in its application to a motion related to the business listed before the Council of that day and if the motion is carried, the rule in question shall be suspended for the time being.”
Notably, any discussion under Rule 267 assumes great significance in Parliament simply because all other business would be put on hold to discuss the issue of national importance.
No other form of discussion entails suspension of other business.
If an issue is admitted under Rule 267, it signifies it’s the most important national issue of the day.
Also, the government will have to respond to the matter by replying during the discussions under Rule 267.
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi gives Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha, demanding to discuss Manipur situation. His party colleague Manickam Tagore also gives Adjournment Motion Notice. Congress also demands that the PM Narendra Modi should speak in the House.
Congress MP Shaktisinh Gohil gives Suspension of Business Notice under Rule 267 in Rajya Sabha, to discuss Manipur situation.
New Delhi
The gory episode of naked girls being paraded in Manipur has left the country ashamed, shell-shocked and devastated.
The worst part is, it happened in a tribal-stronghold state closer home.
The intensity of the video going viral on social media and whatsapp was so telling that
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had to break his silence on the situation in Manipur.
However, Mr Modi's remarks will certainly leave the Congress party anguished and observers skeptical.
"The incidents may be in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and also Manipur...across the country we should rise above political differences and ensure strengthening of law and order measures", Mr Modi told reporters while walking into Parliament premises for the crucial Monsoon session of Parliament.
"Mera hriday peera se bhara hae, krodh se bhara hae (My heart is filled with pain and anguish)"," he said.
"Who is guilty... how many of them is one issue...But such an episode has left the entire country ashamed. 140 crore people have been ashamed," he said.
He also said, "I will urge all Chief Ministers in the country so that adequate steps are taken to strengthen law and order situation...and especially take all necessary steps to ensure protection for our mothers and sisters; and even take strong steps".
The statement though only in the form of media sound bytes suggest the Prime Minister is not yet judging Manipur as an 'exception' and hence he also made opportune use of the time to urge all the Chief Ministers in the country and made it more a 'gender sensitive' issue.
The violence started in Manipur on May 3 and essentially the conflicts have been marred by mass killings, burning of villages, destroying of water projects and ethnic targeting between Kukis and Meiteis.
Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey on Thursday in a meeting with DGP Rajiv Singh sought exemplary for the perpetrators involved in the distressing incident in the state's Kangpokpi district where two women were paraded naked by a mob and allegedly gang-raped.
A large number of Kukis and Zo community people who share ethnic bond with Mizos have fled and
taken shelter in Mizoram as well.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh speaks on the Manipur assault video, asserts 'We saw the video and I felt so extremely bad. It's a crime against humanity. Every human being should condemn it. I immediately ordered the Manipur police to arrest the culprits. The state government will try to ensure capital punishment for the accused.'
Home Minister Amit Shah also held telephonic talk on the matter with Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh.
A visibly upset former Chief Justice of India, Ranjan Gogoi, now nominated Rajya Sabha MP, termed
the episode "very sad" and added, "Of course the government should respond".
Rajya Sabha MP of Samajwadi Party Kapil Sibal said, "Why is the Home Minister silent? What
happened to 'Beti Padhao Beti Bachao'? Will you save daughters like this?"
Meanwhile, the opposition parties on first day of Monsoon session of Parliament gave notice to discuss the Manipur issue under 'general discussion without voting' Rule 193 in Lok Sabha and in Rajya Sabha, the Opposition gives notice under Rule 176 and Rule 267 to discuss the matter.
In principle, the Government has agreed to discuss the matter in both the Houses.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot countered PM Modi and tweeted: “Nothing is more important to us than the safety and dignity of women. After the gruesome gang rape in Jodhpur, the three accused were arrested in just two hours. Whereas BJP took 77 days to nab just one accused in the shameful incident of Manipur".
Chhattisgarh CM also reacted to the Prime Minister's remarks.
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