After more than two months of persisting violence in the state that has led to loss of over 100 lives, thousands displaced, hundreds of villages and thousands of houses burned, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday finally broke his silence on Manipur crisis, thanks to the beginning of the Monsoon Session of Parliament and the ‘disturbing’ video of two women being paraded naked by a violent mob in Kangpokpi district.
"The Manipur incident is shameful... My heart is full of pain and anger." Modi said, while speaking during the pre-session at Parliament House. The monsoon session began Thursday and will continue till August 11.
Assuring the nation that the law will take its course, Modi said the guilty will not be spared.
"I assure the nation, no guilty will be spared. The law will take its course with all its might. What has happened to daughters of Manipur can never be forgiven," Modi said.
The viral video has drawn condemnation from across the country and all corners of the world, especially the Opposition party at the Centre that has, for long, been condemning the prime minister for his silence on the unprecedented violence in Manipur.
And even as the government promised that the Manipur issue will be discussed in Parliament, the House on Thursday failed to discuss the issue with both the houses adjourned till Friday.
According to report, both Houses of Parliament were adjourned till Friday, 21 July, after convening thrice on the first day of the Monsoon session as the Opposition created ruckus and demanded a discussion on the Manipur violence in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Fifteen opposition MPs had moved, asking for the suspension of all business and discussion of the ongoing violence, as per reports.
Reportedly, the government tried to proceed with regular business but the opposition members shouted slogans of "Manipur Manipur" and "Manipur is burning" in the Lok Sabha. In the Rajya Sabha, calls for a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi led to a stalemate, according to NDTV.
Since the violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities erupted in Manipur on May 3, 2023, national leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and five TMC MPs, have visited the state. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi remained silent for more than two months.
In that over two months violence, nearly 150 have died, over 300 others injured, over 70,000 people rendered homeless and displaced with their homes and villages burned.
However, it was the viral video of two women being paraded naked and the Monsoon Session of Parliament that led to the prime minister opening his mouth on Manipur violence on Thursday.
A day earlier on Wednesday, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said the government was ready to discuss all matters in Parliament, including the two-month-long violence in Manipur.
However, both the Houses of Parliament were adjourned before the Manipur issue was even brought up even as the oppositions demanded for it.
Also Read: Deeply hurt, Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey calls for immediate action against viral video incident
