In the midst of a stalemate during the Monsoon session of the Parliament, revolving around the escalating ethnic violence in Manipur, Union Minister Anurag Thakur issued a call on Sunday for opposition parties to actively participate in the debate on the situation.
Thakur pleaded with the opposition to desist from using the issue of atrocities against women in the northeastern state as a political tool. Despite these appeals, opposition parties have already scheduled coordinated protests in Parliament for Monday, focused on the ongoing situation in Manipur. Their demands include a public statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi before any further discussion on the matter can commence.
In response, the government maintains that it is Home Minister Amit Shah, not the Prime Minister, who will address the issue in Parliament.
Referring to the horrific incidents of violence against women, Thakur commented, “No matter which state the victims belong to, such atrocities are deeply distressing. It falls under the state’s responsibility to prevent such incidents.”
The government is eager to prompt a dialogue about this pervasive issue, which is not just confined to Manipur but is also rampant in other states like Rajasthan, Bihar, and West Bengal.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader further added, “We desire a constructive discussion in the House, encouraging participation from all political factions. No one should shy away from the debate. It’s my earnest request to the opposition not to evade the discussion.”
Thakur criticised the opposition for exploiting these issues for political gain instead of contributing to the parliamentary discourse.
The recent Monsoon session, which commenced on July 20, has been marred by interruptions due to the mounting ethnic violence in Manipur. A significant point of contention is a video allegedly shot on May 4, revealing atrocities against women in the state, which only came to light last week.
