The situation in Manipur continues to be deteriorating on a daily basis, and for some odd reason, the Centre has decided to allow things to remain as they are. After the admission of Chief Minister N.Biren Singh on a prominent television channel, that there were innumerable number of cases of atrocities on women in his State, there is no reason for him to remain in office. The CM made the revelations while talking to a prominent TV channel in the wake of the viral video which showed two Kuki tribal women being paraded naked by a group of Meitei armed men, and then taken to a field, where one of them was gangraped. The Manipur police had registered an FIR concerning the May 4th incident only on June 21st. and the first arrest was made on July 19th , when the Video had gone viral. Biren Singh shocked the Nation when he stated that there were hundreds of such FIRs and thousands of cases. The viral video had resulted in unruly scenes in Parliament, and was condemned by every section of society. What is most appalling is that the incident of women being paraded and gangraped happened with the complicity of the police, which did nothing to either save them, or contain mob violence which preceded their abduction by the miscreants. Although the CM has claimed that the suspects were being rounded up and shall be given exemplary punishment, the video has shamed the entire country. The Chief Justice of India had on Thursday warned the Centre that if it did not initiate steps to check violence in Manipur, then the Court may have to step in. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had till then not spoken on the situation in the North Eastern State, made a statement outside Parliament, condemning the occurrence while assuring that the guilty would be dealt with in accordance with law. The fact remains that there has been a complete law and order breakdown in the State which is facing a civil war. The differences between the Meiteis and Kukis seem to be irreconcilable, and the Centre has been watching the drama unfolding without stepping in. The allegation against the Chief Minister is that he was sponsoring the violence, and had failed to discharge his constitutional duties. When Home Minister Amit Shah had convened an all-party meeting, the unanimous demand was to first remove the Chief Minister, something which never happened. The events in Manipur merit the imposition of Presidents’ rule since the administration has failed to discharge the duties assigned to officials who were acting as per their affiliations with their communities, rather than with their constitutional responsibilities. What needs to be ascertained is as to why the entire police station staff as well as the district authorities were not dismissed and placed under arrest following their failure to prevent the incident shown in the Video. The Constitution has provisions to deal with incompetent officials, who in this instance are not only guilty of dereliction of duty but of breaching the code of conduct. The Chief Minister has ordered a high-level probe which is merely a hog wash. It is time for him to go and allow the Centre to impose the Presidents’ rule, to bring in officials who are both competent and neutral. and could help in bringing an iota of normalcy. It may take a long time for the wounds to heal but a beginning has to be made. In the meanwhile, the BJP spokespersons and ministers should treat the matter seriously instead of diluting the failure of the administration. There are cases which have happened in other States which are of immense concern as well, but here in Manipur, the entire government machinery stands absolutely exposed, given its failure on all fronts. India’s integrity is being threatened. The Centre must have known all along as to what things were like in Manipur. It has intelligence agencies and so many other mechanisms to ascertain the truth. However, there has to be some accountability on why adequate steps have not been taken so far. A full-fledged debate in Parliament is the least which one can expect, and to blame the Opposition for disrupting the proceedings is not the way to go ahead. Manipur belongs to India and not to any political party or dispensation. Therefore, the onus for protecting its citizens is also on the government of the day. There has to be zero tolerance for the kind of violence that is being perpetrated in this North eastern State. The Prime Minister has to step in if Manipur has to be rescued.
The Chief Justice of India had on Thursday warned the Centre that if it did not initiate steps to check violence in Manipur, then the Court may have to step in. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had till then not spoken on the situation in the North Eastern State, made a statement outside Parliament, condemning the occurrence while assuring that the guilty would be dealt with in accordance with law. The fact remains that there has been a complete law and order breakdown in the State which is facing a civil war.
