BJP, RSS convert 'Beautiful Manipur' into 'Mayhem Manipur'
Source: Chronicle News Service
Kpi, August 10 2023:
Slamming N Biren Singh-led BJP government for the wide-scale inhumane violence in Manipur, Marxist politician Brinda Karat has strongly alleged that BJP and RSS turned 'Beautiful Manipur' into 'Mayhem Manipur' .
The 76-year old former member of Rajya Sabha and member of CPI (M) Politburo, was among the three-member team of All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA), who visited the strife-torn state.
Karat, who is also the pioneer of changing rape laws in India, expressed strong belief that Manipur's mayhem is only possible because of the role of the state government particularly CM Biren as the head of the government.
She also accused the CM of playing the most divisive and partisan role despite his responsibility to look after all the people of Manipur.
She said that women have been the victims of the most inhumane violence in Manipur and tribals of the state, particularly the women, have been the worst victims.
AIDWA team is Manipur to learn about the terrible politics in this important part of India, in which BJP and RSS have succeeded in turning the most beautiful state into utter mayhem, asserted Karat.
Responding to a query about the way forward to end the violence, Karat said that a man, who is guilty of ruining and destroying the state, has absolutely no right to stay in power, and as such, the first condition to move towards any political solution is to immediately remove the CM.
In addition, to bring confidence of the people of Manipur, particularly in the tribal areas, is one essential factor to restore peace and normalcy in Manipur, she stated.
She also pointed out that in all other northeast states, there is autonomy in most of the tribal areas but it has been reduced only in name in Manipur.
In Manipur, as far as the hill development is concerned, the legal and constitutional rights of tribals over forest land have been snatched away in the name of corporate development.
The whole thing started with the eviction of many tribal families who have the legal and constitutional rights over land and forest.
This is an extremely important issue as far as identity, livelihood and rights are concerned, she added.
She also said that as far as the tribals, forest and land in the northeast are concerned, critical issues are yet to be resolved.
With regard to political solution, it is up to people of the state to decide the way forward, she remarked while adding that people like her can only urge for the terrible violence tobe stopped.
We stand by the brave women of Manipur irrespective of their ethnic identity or religion in this critical situation and pledge to see that the forces of divisiveness do not disrupt women's struggle towards equality and dignity, Karat added.
AIDWA general secretary Mariam Dhawale said that the association is an independent women's joint organisation committed to achieving democracy, equality and women's emancipation formed in the year 1981 as a national-level mass organisation.
She continued that AIDWA also fights for when rights and reaches out to all women who are in distress and victims of violence.
We take up the issues and join them in their struggles for getting justice, she conveyed.
Food security and health services in Manipur are important interventions that the administration must immediately do.
At the all-India level also we have been trying to raise the issue of women of Manipur and also to help them, Dhawale added.
Over the viral video that hung the Indian heads in shame, she said that women of India are outraged at the brutality on the one hand and the impunity and brazenness of the perpetrators.
It is very shocking that these videos were not only recorded but also posted on digital platforms revealing the identity of women thereby violating dignity and rights of the survivors, she added.
She also said that it was absolutely unacceptable to have happened in a country and overall this government has not come forward to protect women of the country.
The governments have failed in their responsibilities and this is not acceptable to the Women of the country, she said and demanded stringent action while giving-security to women.
The team, during the visit to Kangpokpi, met victims of Manipur violence and also extended financial help to the victims and parents of the victims while visiting relief camps and taking stock of the situation.