Jaya Bachchan: ‘Manipur is being talked about internationally, but not by our government’

In Pic: Jaya Bachchan

Actor and Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan slammed the government for failing to address the Manipur turmoil in Parliament. She said that after a months-old video leaked online showing two tribal women being paraded nude and assaulted by a gang of men in Manipur, the world was talking about the violence in the state, but the country's authorities were not.

On Monday, Jaya Bachchan told reporters in Delhi, "Manipur ke vishay mein internationally sab log charcha kar rahe hain, humare desh mein nahi ho rahi hai. Iss se zyada main kya keh sakti hoon? It is a shame, charcha woh karna nahi chahte hain (What else can I say? Manipur is being talked about internationally, but not in our country. The government doesn't want a discussion)."

As opposition MPs continue to press for a discussion on the violence in Manipur, Jaya added, "Aur house ke andar aap jo states ki baat kar rahe hain, woh apke strong opponents hain. Aap unki baat kar rahe hai. Aapke rajya mein kya ho raha hai, aap ke states mein kya ho raha hai? Kya ho raha hai UP mein, Madhya Pradesh mein, aap bataiye. Baki jo kuch bhi unka bacha hai, aage toh bachega bhi nahi (The government is talking about opponent's states' problems, but what about Uttar Pradesh and MP? They should also clarify what is going on in their respective states. In any case, these state governments will not last long)."

Manipur has been witnessing violence since May 3, following the protests by the Kuki and Naga communities against the High Court's order asking the state government to consider the inclusion of the Meitei community in the category of Scheduled Tribes (ST). Only STs can buy lands in hilly areas. A video of 2 women being paraded naked in strike-torn Manipur has left the world in shock. Earlier too, Jaya Bachchan had reacted to the violence.

Jaya Bachchan found the video to be utterly shameful and distressing, and she revealed that she couldn't bear to watch the entire footage due to the overwhelming feeling of shame it evoked.