Maharashtra’s Opposition parties — Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Sharad Pawar-led faction of National Congress Party (NCP) — staged a walkout in the State Assembly, protesting the State government’s decision to not allow a discussion on the Manipur situation after video of women being paraded naked went viral on social media.
The Opposition parties, in the ongoing Monsoon Session of the Maharashtra State Legislative Assembly, demanded the dismissal of the N. Biren Singh-led Manipur government and called for President’s Rule in the State.
They vociferously sought a discussion on the lawlessness and gruesome events in Manipur and table resolutions to condemn the BJP-led Central government for its alleged inaction.
However, the Eknath Shinde government refused to allow any discussion on the matter, leading to chaos in the House. Opposition legislators in both Assembly and the Council raised slogans, staged protests and walked out. Later, they protested on the staircases of Vidhan Bhavan.
A video from May 4 of two Kuki women being stripped naked and paraded by a mob in Manipur surfaced recently and sparked national outrage. While one of the women was raped, two relatives of one of the women were killed by the mob who were armed with sophisticated weapons including AK-47 rifles, Manipur Police said. Four suspects were nabbed in case.
Opposition parties had also demanded a discussion on the incident in Parliament and called for Chief Minister Singh’s resignation over the violence that has rocked the State since May 3.
