In a shocking turn of events, a viral video from Manipur depicting the distressing public humiliation of two women by a group of men has ignited a fresh controversy. As the Opposition parties demand the resignation of the state Chief Minister, a prominent political leader, Mehbooba Mufti, has launched a scathing attack on the Central government.
Without directly naming the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Mufti pointedly criticized the ruling party for hypocritically shedding “crocodile tears” over the heinous incident while simultaneously protecting sexual molesters with political interests. She took to Twitter to express her outrage, condemning the prevailing attitude that seemingly undermines the “beti bachao beti padhao” (Save daughters, educate daughters) initiative.
Adding fuel to the fire, the situation was exacerbated by a Delhi court granting regular bail to Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the outgoing President of the Wrestling Federation of India, and Vinod Tomar Singh, the Federation’s assistant secretary, in a sexual harassment case filed by several wrestlers.
Meanwhile, in another highly contentious development, the jailed self-styled godman and Dera Sacha Sauda chief, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, has been granted regular parole of 30 days by the Haryana Government. This parole decision marks yet another instance where the Haryana government has allowed the release of the rape convict godman, raising concerns and criticisms.
Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has been serving a 20-year prison sentence since 2017 for the rape of two women disciples at his ashram’s headquarters in Sirsa. Earlier this year, he was granted three weeks’ furlough, and now, with the recent parole approval, questions are being raised about the treatment of sexual offenders and the prioritization of political interests over justice.
The Manipur video and subsequent political reactions have sparked national outrage, putting the spotlight on the need for accountability and transparency in handling sexual assault cases. As the public demands justice for the victims and calls for stringent actions against the perpetrators, the political storm continues to unfold, with the Opposition parties intensifying their demand for the Chief Minister’s resignation and the Central government facing accusations of shielding sexual molesters for political gain.
