West Bengal: Trinamool Mahila Congress protests against atrocities on women in Manipur

Siliguri (West Bengal) [India], August 19 (ANI): Members of the Trinamool Mahila Congress on Saturday took to the streets of Siliguri and staged a protest over atrocities against women in Manipur.

Dressed in clothes similar to those worn by women in Manipur, the TMC women’s wing took out the protest.

TMC leader Chandrima Bhattacharya said the protest was held to express solidarity with the women of Manipur who were brutally attacked.

“This is a dress that is mostly similar to the dress that women in Manipur wear. Today, we are expressing solidarity with the women of Manipur who were brutally attacked. We demand that the PM take action. This is not about politicising the issue. The PM says this is New India. Is this the new India, where women are attacked? …Women stand united.”

On Friday, Brinda Karat of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) said that the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) had visited the strife-torn Manipur from August 9-11 and had submitted a report to President Droupadi Murmu highlighting the sexual assault of women which has been subjected to political gains.

“We met the President. We handed over the full report of our Manipur visit. In the memorandum, we highlighted the sexual assault of women that was politicised. The politics that Chief Minister and the BJP were given details about. She (President) was concerned about the plight of women in the state,” the CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat, as per ANI.

Earlier a 21-member delegation from Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) visited the violence-hit Manipur from July 29-30. The delegation met the Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey and visited the relief camps set up in the state.

A five-member delegation was also sent to Manipur by Trinamool Congress (TMC).

Clashes broke out between Metei and Kuki communities on May 3, days after the Manipur High Court asked the state government to consider adding the former, the majority community in the state, to the list of Scheduled Tribes. 

The violence in the Northeast state has claimed over 160 lives while displacing thousands more.

The Opposition has been continuously targeting the state and Central governments over the issue, and the matter also took centre stage during the recently concluded monsoon session of the Parliament.

Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has deputed 53 officers, including two women DIG-rank officers, to probe the Manipur violence cases, sources said on Wednesday.