Manipur clashes and sexual violence: ‘CM has failed and PM is still silent’

Children from the Meitei community who were displaced by violence in Manipur watch television at a relief camp in Imphal, on Sunday. Pic/PTI

Opposition leaders and civil rights activist Irom Sharmila on Sunday pressed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene to contain the violent clashes and sexual assault on women in Manipur, where the "law and order collapsed" over two months ago.

Irom Sharmila on Sunday she could not hold her tears after watching the video clip of two women being paraded naked and molested by a group of men in Kangpokpi district on May 4. "It's inhuman and quite a disturbing incident," she told PTI from Bengaluru.

"It's clear that the state government in Manipur has failed totally. And when a state cannot control the situation, why is the prime minister silent?" said the 51-year-old award-winning activist, who hails from Manipur.

Irom Sharmila, civil rights activist

The ‘Iron Lady' of Manipur demanded that Chief Minister N Biren Singh admit his failure and apologise to the people.

No control on fake news

The despicable May 4 sexual assault in Kangpokpi occurred after a picture of a body wrapped in polythene was circulated in the Imphal valley with a false claim that the victim had been murdered by tribals in Churachandpur. On the same day, barely 30 km away, two more women in their 20s were brutally raped and murdered. The picture was later found to be that of a woman murdered in Delhi.

The lawlessness because of the fake picture spread like jungle fire and was one of the reasons for the state government to shut down the Internet on May 3, according to officials from various security agencies who have been monitoring the situation in the restive state. Analysis by security agencies has led to the conclusion that there is "no control on fake or one-sided news being circulated even by local newspapers".

‘CM must go'

The Congress on Sunday said there would be no movement towards peace in Manipur as long as Biren Singh remains the chief minister. The attack came over a media report about an 18-year-old woman being abducted, assaulted and gang raped in Imphal on May 15.

In a tweet, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "Every passing day as the truth of the horror of Manipur continues to trickle out, it is clear that: The law and order in the state has collapsed. Mobs, armed vigilantes and insurgent groups are running amok. Women and families have faced the worst, unimaginable atrocities." The administration is not only complicit in the violence but has actively fanned hate, he alleged.

"There won't be any justice or movement towards peace as long as Biren Singh remains CM. The time has long past gone for the Prime Minister to act. He must ACT NOW and not deflect, distort and defame to cover up collapse of the so-called double engine governance in Manipur," the Congress leader said on Twitter.

On Modi's and BJP's comparison of the situation in Manipur to that of Bihar, West Bengal and Rajasthan, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Sunday said, "Let's admit that there were incidents of violence against women in Bihar, West Bengal and Rajasthan. How does that excuse the continuing and relentless violence in Manipur?"

May 3
Day violent clashes erupted in Manipur

PM Modi's July itinerary

Amid Opposition's demand that Prime Minister Narendra Modi speak on the Manipur issue in Parliament and visit the state in turmoil since May 3, the PM has a list of inaugurations to attend to this month. Modi, who may inaugurate the ITPO complex in Delhi on July 26, will visit Gujarat on July 27 and 28. During his trip to his home state, Modi will inaugurate Rajkot International Airport and ‘Semicon India 2023' in Gandhinagar - an event on investment in semiconductor sector, officials said on Sunday. He will also address a public rally.

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