'You have killed Bharat Mata in Manipur': Rahul Gandhi attacks Modi govt in Parliament
New Delhi/IBNS: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday lashed out at the Modi government in Parliament's lower house Lok Sabha in reference to the violence in Manipur, media reports said.
Speaking during the debate on the no-confidence motion, Rahul said as quoted by NDTV, "India is a voice, a voice of the heart. You have killed that voice in Manipur. You have murdered Bharat Mata in Manipur. You are traitors. My mother is sitting here.
"The other mother, Bharat Mata, you killed her in Manipur. That is why the Prime Minister does not visit Manipur. You are not protectors of Bharat Mata, you are her killers."
"The Prime Minister has not gone to Manipur because he doesn't consider it a part of India. You (BJP) have divided Manipur," the Congress top leader added.
In a horrific incident, two women were paraded naked on the road by a group of men in Manipur and the video of the same was widely shared on social media drawing heavy condemnation and calls for action.
The two women were also gang-raped in a nearby field, a tribal organisation has alleged.
The incident occurred on May 4 in Kangpokpi district, some 35 km from the state capital Imphal, according to a statement by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF).
A day before this on-camera horror, clashes broke out between the valley-majority Meitei and the hill-majority Kuki tribe over the Meiteis' demand for Scheduled Tribes (ST) status.
Making a strong remark over the incident in Manipur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier said that it "brings shame to humanity” and what has happened to daughters of Manipur can never be forgiven and the "guilty will not be spared.”
Modi had said, "The whole country is being insulted, and 140 crore countrymen are feeling ashamed.
"I assure the countrymen that no culprit will be spared. What has happened to these daughters of Manipur can never be forgiven."