9 August 2023, Mumbai: Union Home Minister Amit Shah raised questions about the timing of a video depicting the May 4 incident where two Manipur women were stripped and paraded naked by a mob. The video surfaced on social media on July 19, just a day before the Monsoon session of Parliament commenced. Shah suggested that if the video had been promptly shared with the Manipur Director General of Police, it could have aided in the swift apprehension of the culprits.
Shah Advocates Direct Evidence Sharing with Law Enforcement
During the no-confidence motion debate in Lok Sabha, Amit Shah highlighted the potential significance of providing crucial evidence directly to law enforcement rather than publicizing it on social media platforms. He emphasized that circulating the video on social media platforms before sharing it with the authorities hindered the timely arrest of the accused. Shah further questioned the apparent timing of the video’s release, which occurred on the eve of the parliamentary session.
Congressman Leader Criticizes Home Minister’s Remarks on Video Release
Shah’s comments prompted a response from Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, who criticized the Home Minister’s stance. Ramesh deemed it ‘shameful’ that Shah was questioning the timing of the video’s release. He alleged that by claiming intelligence agencies were unaware of the video’s existence, Shah was implicitly admitting to his own incompetency as the Home Minister.
Amit Shah Acknowledges Disturbing Manipur Incidents, Discourages Politicization
Addressing the Lok Sabha, Amit Shah acknowledged the disturbing incidents in Manipur, terming them ‘shameful.’ He acknowledged the opposition’s concerns about the cycle of violence in the region but cautioned against politicizing such events. While he condemned the occurrences, he urged against turning them into a political spectacle.
Appeal for Peace in Manipur Gains Cross-Party Support in Lok Sabha
Shah appealed for a resolution to the ongoing cycle of violence, entreating the conflicting Kuki and Meitei communities to engage in dialogue. He revealed that since the eruption of violence on May 3, 152 fatalities, 14,898 arrests, and 1,106 FIRs have been registered.In response to Shah’s appeal, Lok Sabha adopted a resolution advocating for peace in Manipur. Speaker Om Birla read the resolution, which received enthusiastic support from the NDA members present, as well as from the opposition. The resolution aimed to unite parliamentary efforts towards calming the situation in Manipur.