Blame Game: Govt says Opposition running away from Manipur debate; Opposition says all claims of Nari Shakti by the BJP ring hollow

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Thakur on Thursday claimed that the opposition was «running away from a discussion» in Parliament on the Manipur situation, accusing them of using incidents of crime against women to further political gains. Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, he said the government was ready for a debate on the Manipur situation in the House during which similar incidents of crime against women in other states such as Rajasthan should also be discussed.

A video of two women being paraded naked by a group of men in Manipur, which has been witnessing ethnic violence since May 3, drew sharp reactions from the opposition leaders who demanded a discussion in Parliament on the situation in the state. The TMC attacked the saffron party saying «All claims of Nari Shakti by the BJP ring hollow if we cannot ensure justice for the women of Manipur.» Breaking his silence on the Manipur situation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the incident of Manipur was a shame for any civilised society and those guilty will be dealt with the full might of the law.

«Unfortunately, the opposition is seeing this incident through a political lens and wants to politicise it. We have said we are ready for debate, but the opposition is running away from debate,» Thakur, the Minister for Information and Broadcasting said.

The senior BJP leader also referred to incidents of crime against women in Rajasthan, and said Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi should also speak on them. «Will Sonia Gandhi and the opposition remain a mute witness to such incidents in other states and shed tears only for one state (Manipur).

How can you discriminate between states when it comes to incidents of crime against women. You are treating women as a political tool,»