Fulfil your duty towards violence-hit Manipur instead of electioneering in Karnataka: Congress to PM
New Delhi, May 5: The Congress on Friday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fulfil his duty towards violence-hit Manipur instead of being busy in election campaign in Karnataka and sought Home Minister Amit Shah's sacking for his "complete failure" in maintaining peace in the northeastern state.
The Congress also demanded President's rule in Manipur, which has been hit by violence between tribals and the majority Meitei community.
"Modi ji, you are an elected prime minister of the country and the people of Karnataka are also watching what is happening in Manipur and want that you should save Manipur from burning and restore peace in the state first.
"Seeking votes in Karnataka is against your 'kartavya' (duty) and we want to remind you that your duty is to save Manipur instead," Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said.
She charged that the home minister has totally failed, and referred to an earlier clash between police forces of Assam and Mizoram and the border rift between Maharashtra and Karnataka.
"What moral right do you have to remain in your post. Actually, President's rule should be imposed immediately by invoking Article 356 (of the Constitution) and attempts should be made to bring back peace in the state," the Congress leader said.
All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Randeep Surjewala shared a government order on social media and pointed that the state government has written that it is "pleased to authorise shoot at sight orders".
"Just like the British government, only the Modi government could use such draconian language as there is a complete breakdown of law and order and constitutional machinery in Manipur," he said in a video message.
"This is a fit case where Home Minister of India Amit Shah should resign or should be sacked forthwith. This is a fit case where the BJP government in Manipur should be dismissed and Article 356, that is President's rule, should be imposed," he added.
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Shrinate said Manipur has been burning for the last four days and reports of loot, murder and arson are coming in. The situation there is so bad that internet services had to be suspended, half the state is under curfew and the Indian Railways has stopped services there, she said.
"Ministers, MLAs and MPs of Manipur are urging the prime minister to save Manipur which is burning. But it is unfortunate that the prime minister and the home minister are so busy in electioneering in Karnataka that they are not bothered about the situation in Manipur.
"They are so concerned with votes that it does not matter to them even if Manipur is burnt to ashes," she alleged.
Clashes broke out in Manipur on Wednesday and intensified overnight with counter-attacks being mounted by rival communities in retaliation to earlier attacks after Naga and Kuki tribals organised a 'Tribal Solidarity March' to protest moves to give scheduled tribe status to the Metei community.
The state government on Thursday issued a shoot-at-sight orders in "extreme cases" to contain the spiralling violence which has displaced more than 9,000 people from their villages.
हमारे देश के पूर्वोत्तर का एक अहम राज्य मणिपुर पिछले 3-4 दिनों से जल रहा है। आगज़नी हो रही है, लोगों की जान साँसत में है क्योंकि वहाँ हिंसा ने और उग्र रूप ले लिया है। आधे राज्य यानि 16 में से 8 ज़िलों में कर्फ्यू लगा है और इंटरनेट पूरे प्रदेश में बंद कर दिया गया है। भारतीय रेल… pic.twitter.com/45XMjk8Gqz
— Supriya Shrinate (@SupriyaShrinate) May 5, 2023
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Gujarat: Two minor Muslim girls sexually abused by teacher, families allege communal bias in probe
Amreli (Gujarat): In a harrowing incident that has sent shockwaves through the Bharat Nagar municipality school in Amreli, two minor Muslim girls—Zainab (8) and Safeena (10)—were allegedly subjected to sexual abuse by their teacher for eight consecutive days. The disturbing crime came to light when Zainab’s family found her sobbing in a corner, leading them to uncover the horrific details of the abuse. The incident occurred just days before International Women’s Day on March 8, at a time when the country was making tall claims about women’s empowerment.
According to a detailed report published in Twocircles.net, the accused teacher, identified as Mahendra Patel, has a troubling history of alleged physical assault cases. However, families of the survivors claim that he had managed to evade legal consequences due to his “RSS links” and “Hindu identity.”
Zainab’s elder brother, speaking to Twocircles.net, expressed deep anguish over the ordeal his younger sister had to endure.
“What the teacher, Mahendra Patel, did with my sister is terrible. My sister is only eight years old and a student in standard three. We are still in shock, but we have decided to raise our voices,” he said.
Safeena’s father was too traumatised to speak, but her uncle alleged that the incident was not just a case of sexual violence but also a reflection of growing communal hate against the Muslim community.
“All the students at this municipal school are Muslims. The incident is a repercussion of the rapidly growing hate against Muslims. We are not politically backed like the accused, but we have self-respect, and we can sense the injustice,” he said.
According to Twocircles.net, Mahendra Patel had a pattern of abusive behavior. He allegedly forced students to consume alcohol and sometimes even poured liquor into their water bottles to impair their senses. The survivors’ families claim that the teacher manipulated and intimidated the children, forcing them into silence.
Zainab’s uncle described the difficulty in seeking justice, particularly given the political affiliations of the accused.
“Such cases of physical abuse are beyond disgust. But the way to reach justice is truly difficult—particularly when the culprit is associated with Hindutva outfits. He also threatened our daughter to silence her,” he alleged.
Local Muslims in the area have pointed to a larger pattern of negligence towards schools in Muslim-majority localities. The Bharat Nagar municipality school, where the crime occurred, reportedly operates with only two teachers. Many in the community believe that the lack of accountability and proper oversight allowed Patel to continue his predatory actions unchecked.
The parents of the survivors first grew suspicious when they noticed the foul smell of liquor on their children. Concerned about what might be happening at school, they gathered a group of locals and devised a plan to catch the accused in the act. The following day, they arrived at the school premises during lunch hours and allegedly caught Patel red-handed.
Gujarat-based reporter and social worker Rafique, speaking to Twocircles.net, confirmed the sequence of events.
“Mahendra was harassing the kids for many days. A lot of people have witnessed the incident. When locals, including Zainab’s parents, suddenly opened the doors, they found the teacher involved in the obscene act,” he said.
Following the discovery, the families of the survivors immediately approached the police to file a complaint. However, as reported by Twocircles.net, the police allegedly took an unusually long time—around seven to eight hours—to register an FIR. The families and community members suspect that this delay was due to the accused’s Hindu identity and his alleged links with the ruling BJP and its ideological mentor, the RSS.
Zainab’s family was also allegedly pressured to drop the case in exchange for money.
“We were asked to take Rs 50 lakhs and not to pursue the case because the perpetrator is closely associated with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the RSS,” alleged Zainab’s uncle.
Despite these attempts, the families, backed by local Muslims, refused to accept any settlement and demanded strict action against the accused.
As news of the crime spread, the Patel community and Hindutva organisations allegedly rallied behind the accused and reached the police station in his support. Meanwhile, local Muslims held demonstrations demanding justice. Influential members of the community, under the banner of Darul Uloom Mehbubiyah, wrote to authorities seeking strict punishment for Patel.
The second teacher at the school, who was reportedly uninvolved in the crime, also joined the protests in support of the survivors. Protesters emphasized that this was not Patel’s first offense, urging authorities to conduct a deeper investigation.
Eventually, a case was registered against Mahendra Patel under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and he was arrested. However, community members believe that the case requires a more thorough and independent investigation, as several other linked offenses may have gone unnoticed.
Gujarat-based activist Mujahid Nafees, who has been advocating for justice in the case, shared his concerns with Twocircles.net.
“We have met the families and held a protest. We have also written a letter to the DGP, urging him for compensation. The communal angle is quite clear in the case. The police took around seven to eight hours to register an FIR,” he said.
The survivors’ families have demanded that the case be tried in a fast-track special court. They have also called for the formation of an independent investigation panel to ensure transparency and accountability in the probe.
Nafees pointed out that the involvement of right-wing groups in the case raises larger questions about the intersection of communalism, sexism, and political influence.
“On a social dais, this case exposes an awful blend of communalism, sexism, and politics-backed terror against Muslims and girls. Other families who came across the incident through the news now fear for the security of their daughters. Seeing a heinous criminal being cheered up by hateful throngs not only breaks the myth of alleged development in Gujarat but also annihilates the trust of the Muslim community,” he concluded.
(Names have been changed to protect the privacy and identity of the minor survivors.)
This report is based on details published in Twocircles.net.
