THE SHAMEFUL BETRAYAL OF MANIPUR

It is now nearly 3 months since Manipur has lapsed into unrest. Communities have been torn apart. Innocent people have been attacked, driven out of their homes, assaulted, raped and murdered. Families have been uprooted, have lost all their possessions and have been made refugees in their own Country. Farms have gone unplanted, people are out of work, children are out of school and increasingly people are running out of hope. Women have been paraded naked and raped. These women of Manipur have been denied the most basic protections that the Constitution guarantees even to refugees let alone full citizens of our land. India hangs its head in ‘Shame’. We have failed Manipur and its people.

Not only has the administration failed in its responsibility to stop this carnage by some accounts, it has been an active participant in the perpetuating of the division and unrest. This is not just the collapse of law and order but the complete collapse of the ‘Idea of India’, ‘Constitutional process’ and the ‘Mechanisms of the State’. Shri Rahul Gandhi was the only top leader of any political Party to stand by the people of Manipur in their most difficult time. All this while, the double-engine of the BJP in the center and state has collectively done nothing to stop the madness and restore peace. Most unfortunately, the Prime Minister, the elected leader of the Nation refused to utter a single word of support, solace and comfort to the bleeding people of the land.

I finally took the video footage of a horrific and barbaric act to shake the Prime Minister from his silence. So horrific is the footage that the Supreme Court has taken Suo Moto cognizance of the matter and said that it will act if the Centre continues in its inaction.

In the suffering of the women of Manipur, in the trauma of the children of Manipur, in the broken bodies and homes of the people of Manipur lies the shattered heart of every Indian. Have some shame Mr. Prime Minister! Act now. End this madness. For the sake of humanity and the dignity of India, bring order back to Manipur.

Jai Congress. Jai Hind. Jai Jagat.