The Manipur incident, a national shame
It takes 60 days for the head of our country to wake up and react on the horrific indecent incident at Manipur of two women being paraded naked and one gang raped. Does it mean those in the know were unaware but kept it under wraps on a hidden agenda, till the video became viral and the country’s conscience was shocked? Assurance has come that the needful will be done but with public memory being short these assurances too will remain unfulfilled.
Women are the most fragile creations of human kind. They build a home, a family and the society. Those who disrespect them are of insane mind and must be punished with severe punishment that others of like mind don't repeat the same act. This is the demand of the society.
We are of a democratic country. We have our democratic rights to live with freedom of expression, choice of religion and our freedom to live a free and happy life. No government can deny us these rights enshrined in the Constitution of our democratic country. But the present government is denying us these rights with a fascist mind by dividing Bharat which is one country, one people, one religion. It's a myth the fascists are playing with, it cannot come true.
Ayres Sequeira, Salvador do Mundo
Where anarchy and mobocracy rule
The barbaric video emerging from Manipur which showed two women being paraded naked, molested and gang raped later should make us all hang our heads in shame. Though the incident occurred 77 days earlier, no action to nab the criminals was taken by the state administration or the law enforcement agencies. It is only after the Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance of the affair that a few face saving perfunctory arrests were made. Modi hadn't spoken a word ever since Manipur went up in flames about 2 months ago, but he expressed faux anguish standing in front of the Parliament stating that his heart is full of pain and anger. Bah!! Where were you all these days? And the less said about the Manipur CM the better. All this expression of sham agony by the PM (he didn't come to the Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha for a debate on Manipur despite vociferous demands by the opposition) is only with an eye on the forthcoming elections in the states and Centre.
Not unsurprisingly, the government has issued gag orders to social media platforms to take down the video saying they are in contravention of extant Indian laws; this is nothing but a damage control measure to prevent further sullying of Vishwaguru's image as international news agencies have also headlined this heinous happening. What can one expect of this government which grants parole (the fifth in the last 17 months ) to rapist Ram Rahim, gives bail to sexual predator Brij Bhushan (even without him being arrested, mind you), releases 11 convicts in the 2002 Bilkis Bano gangrape by way of a special remission act and then publicly felicitates and garlands them. Shame !! Copious crocodile tears shed by the ruling party mavens have no meaning, they have absolutely no intention of righting the wrongs as it would impact their vote banks. The medieval allegorical concept of Danse Macabre, tandav if you please is being played out in India, except that it is not metaphorical; it is chillingly real. There is no hope for this country where anarchy and mobocracy rules . The powers that be are only concerned with winning elections. Cry Mother India, then cry some more.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Punish Manipur incident perpetrators
This has reference to the report ‘Imagine if this had ever happened to your sister or daughter’ (O Heraldo, July 21, 2023).
The Manipur violence has gone on for far too long with the authorities allegedly turning a blind eye to the whole episode. The parading of two women naked, is perhaps the most horrific thing to have been witnessed. It seems like man has lost his sensibilities. How could they even think of doing such a thing? Your news report headline, 'imagine if this had ever happened to your sister or daughter' should set us thinking. It should make us hang our heads in shame. Similarly, at other times, when women are molested, hammered and raped in full public view and nobody dares to lift a finger to help the victim, the question, 'what if that was your sister or daughter' seems pertinent.
Bringing the horrific incident in Manipur to a logical conclusion should be the top priority. The culprits must be dealt severe punishment. The inaction on the part of the police and the authorities however, cannot be condoned. They must be held equally responsible and brought to book. But then, another pertinent question arises, 'who will bell the cat?'
Melville X D'Souza, Mumbai
Will the year 2024 be a repeat of the year 1977?
It has been a habit in India --forming political alliances to fight elections and most of the time they met with success. In 1975 when Congress declared Emergency in the country all opposition political parties were under tension of how to get rid of the ruling Congress Party. In the following Lok Sabha elections in 1977 all opposition parties came together to form the Janata Party. They met with success and late Morarji Desai became the Prime Minister. Couple of years went smoothly followed by quarrels, infighting within the parties. Late Morarji Desài did not last long as PM. And was followed by late Charan Singh, as Prime Minister but could not complete the term. Then in 1980 Congress Party came back to power.
After that BJP formed NDA alliance in 1998. And now 26 opposition parties came together to form ‘Indian National Development Inclusive Alliance’ I N D I A to fight 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
So it will be a fight I N D I A versus N D A. If I N D I A wins will they be able to work unitedly to protect our Constitution, democracy, secularism and social justice? Will they be able to complete the full term of five years without any infighting within the parties which have come together? Or will it be the repeat of the year 1977? Let's wait and see. Only time will tell
Natividade Fernandes, Cavelossim
Litmus test for Modi-led BJP
A video showing two tribal women being paraded naked and groped in public by a mob in Manipur has sparked a nationwide uproar. The shameful act happened on May 4, but the video surfaced only on July 19. Manipur police have arrested four people, including the prime suspect, Huirem Herodas Meitei. Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised to take extraordinary action against the perpetrators. The CJI warned the Union and Manipur governments to punish the offenders or face Supreme Court intervention. Tackling violence in Manipur will be a litmus test for the Modi-led BJP government.
N J Ravi Chander, Bengaluru