Priya Aditi
A video surfacing on social media on May 4 depicting two kuki women from one of the warring communities being paraded naked by a few men from the other side heightened tensions in the hills of Manipur. Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) proclaimed on Thursday a planned protest march to bring attention to their plight. The video was circulating on the eve of the march as a means of highlighting their plight. According to a spokesperson for the ITLF, the “despicable scene that occurred on May 4 in the Kangpokpi district depicts men repeatedly molesting helpless women, who cry and beg their captors.”The horrific ordeal endured by these innocent women is exacerbated by the perpetrators’ decision to share the video on social media, which identifies the victims.
The police are currently investigating the incident. In a statement, the spokesperson condemned the “sickening act” and demanded that the central and state administrations, National Commission for Women, and National Commission for Scheduled Tribes take notice of the crime and bring the perpetrators to justice.
On Thursday, the Kuki-Zo tribal members intend to raise this issue during a planned protest march in Churchandpur. Since May 3, Manipur state has been experiencing ethnic confrontations between the majority of Meiteis in Imphal valley and the Kukis in the hills. More than 160 individuals have been killed so far in the violence.
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Opposition Demands Manipur Discussion
Ahead of the Parliament’s Monsoon Session, the entire Opposition is prepared to raise, among other issues, Manipur violence, railway safety, unemployment, inflation, the status of the India-China border, and the trade balance between the two countries.
On Thursday, the first day of the Parliament’s Monsoon Session, some parties intend to propose an adjournment motion concerning Manipur violence, among other issues. The Monsoon Session will last until August 11 and consist of seventeen sittings.
Almost all the parties including the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bharat Rashtra Smithi (BRS), Samajwadi Party, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Janata Dal United (JDU), Dravina Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), CPM, CPI, Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) shared their plan while speaking to media followed by an all-party meeting called by the government in the Parliament premises. 34 parties and 44 leaders were represented at the meeting.
The Congress announced on Wednesday that it will raise the Manipur violence issue on the first day of the Monsoon Session, seeking a response from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Today, at the outset (of the meeting), I maintained my position. Our primary concern is the violence in Manipur. Prime Minister Narendra Modi should appear in Parliament to address questions about the matter. After attending a government-called all-party meeting, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Choudhary said, “We will bring a motion to adjourn tomorrow.”
Choudhary, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, also stated that the issue of flooding and the federal structure of India should be discussed. Choudhary stated in the meeting that he asked the government to allow all opposition parties to speak in the House, stating, “We have not come here for tourism, so we want a discussion in the House.”
Sanjay Singh, leader of the AAP, objected to the introduction of the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023, and stated that his party and other like-minded Opposition parties will oppose the bill when it is introduced for passage in the House.
He added that his party will also bring up the violence in Manipur and the misuse of federal agencies. In the meeting, IUML leader Mohd Basheer voiced his vehement opposition to the Uniform Civil Code, stating, “It is dangerous and will disrupt the country’s harmony.”
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Tiruchi Siva of the DMK also demanded that the Manipur incident be discussed during the Monsoon Session and that PM Modi make a statement before the House.
