‘New India’ must hang its head in shame and not Manipur alone. The Centre particularly cannot absolve itself of the apathy it has shown in handling the crisis under its Biren Singh government. Worse, it has taken a horrific and revolting video of two women from the Kuki-Zomi community being paraded naked, sexually assaulted by a mob and one of them allegedly gang raped in Kangpokpi district, for Prime Minister Modi to break his silence–nearly three months since the N-E State got engulfed in hate violence and ‘ethnic cleansing’. Addressing media outside Parliament House on its first day of the monsoon session, he said his ‘heart is full of pain and anger’, the ‘incident shameful for any civilised nation’ and assured ‘no guilty would be spared’. Too little and too late! 

The incident dates back to May 4; a zero FIR was registered on May 18, but the police got cracking only after the video went viral on social media on Wednesday last. Over two months no arrests were made! And lo and behold Biren Singh’s response: the culprits deserve ‘capital punishment’; an FIR is filed and one person is arrested.

By late evening it was four more. If this was to soothe anger or suggest competency, there wouldn’t be many takers. For the pain, humiliation, anger, and fear amongst the minority tribal community must shake the conscience of every citizen.  

Importantly, the video touched a chord even within the highest court of the land. Taking suo moto notice of it, CJI Chandrachud said “We are very deeply disturbed by the videos… I think it’s time that the government really steps in and takes action because this is simply unacceptable.” 

And viewing the incident as “the grossest of constitutional and human rights violations”, he warned the government to act “Otherwise we will take action if nothing is happening on the ground.” The top court’s outrage and anguish are appreciated, and so too the Opposition’s demand in both Houses of Parliament that all business be stalled, the Prime Minister make a statement on Manipur and a discussion took place. 

But an adamant government insists it is willing to discuss only on Monday. What follows is expected: ruckus and Parliament proceedings stalled. New Delhi needs to act in the interest of the people and not politics.