New Delhi: Senior BJP leader Shanta Kumar has urged the Modi government to take “decisive” action to bring the violence in Manipur to an end, saying they should either replace Chief Minister N. Biren Singh of the BJP or impose President’s rule.
Shanta Kumar, a former Union minister who has also served as Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, said the Manipur violence is a “national shame”, adding that even Parliament has failed to address the issue.
“It is very unfortunate,” he told ThePrint in an interview. “The central government should act swiftly and decisively to end the violence and chaos in the state, whether by replacing the chief minister or imposing President’s Rule. The situation has not improved even after 80 days, and reports of arson and killing are still coming. This must stop,” he said.
Referring to the Mahabharata, Shanta Kumar said “one Draupadi cheerharan (disrobing of Draupadi) led to dharma yudh (war)”. “Here, a ‘Draupadi cheerharan’ is taking place every day and everyone has become a mute spectator.”
The ongoing ethnic violence between the Kuki and Meitei communities in Manipur erupted on 3 May. While a host of factors is believed to have fuelled tensions for years, the immediate trigger was the Meiteis’ demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
The violence has so far claimed more than 150 lives and displaced over 50,000 people.
Public outrage over the Manipur crisis has intensified after a video of two women being stripped and paraded naked by a mob went viral.
According to Kumar, even Parliament has failed to address the issue and is busy discussing procedural matters. “I never imagined that India’s democracy would fall to such a low level,” he said.
The ethnic clashes in Manipur have led to a deadlock in Parliament since the monsoon session began on 20 July.
The Opposition has disrupted proceedings in both houses of Parliament, seeking a statement on the issue from Prime Minister Modi. In the Rajya Sabha, the Opposition has been demanding a long-duration discussion on the situation in Manipur under Rule 267 and not a short-duration discussion under Rule 176, as suggested by the government.
On Tuesday, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla agreed to take up the no-confidence motion moved by the Opposition against the BJP-led NDA government next week, with PM Modi’s reply scheduled for 10 August.
Also Read: No one wants to talk about rapes in Manipur. There’s a silence at the heart of the violence
‘Parliament should debate issue’
Shanta Kumar, who was a Union minister in the Vajpayee government, expressed dismay over the lack of discussion on the Manipur issue in Parliament.
Kumar cited the video of the two women, saying what happened to them was an affront to women’s dignity and a “national disgrace”. “But what is more shocking is that Parliament has not taken up the matter for debate.”
“Videos of the horrific incident were circulating on social media and the nation was in tears, but the parliamentarians were busy debating the rules of procedure,” he added.
“Why can’t Parliament suspend all other business and focus on this heinous crime?”
According to him, Parliament should set an example for the country by rising above party politics and having a thorough discussion on the serious issue.
‘Hang rapists’
Demanding capital punishment for rapists, Shanta Kumar expressed distress over the rising cases of missing women in the country.
“It’s distressing that in rape and modesty cases, we are still dealing with regular law, while such incidents are increasing day by day. Why can’t we hang them in three months to teach a lesson?” he told ThePrint.
According to Kumar, rape cases should be fast-tracked and tried in special courts within three months, and the culprits hanged, to deter others from committing such heinous crimes.
“Only then will the rule of law be established and people will fear the outcome,” he added.
The octogenarian said 13 lakh girls and women have gone missing in the country in three years, citing data provided by the home ministry in the Rajya Sabha Monday.
Raising doubts about the central government’s efforts on the safety of women, Kumar said, “We are observing Amrit Mahotsav [to mark 75 years of Independence], but girls are disappearing — 13 lakhs girls are missing, and nobody is bothered. It is a shame and a blot on the country’s prestige that we are not able to protect and provide safety to our daughters and sisters in the country.”
(Edited by Richa Mishra)
Also Read: Tears, tales of harrowing escape & a few reasons to smile — life at a Kuki relief camp in Manipur