Smriti Irani versus Mahua Moitra over Cong’s ‘FAILED’ report card on Manipur

Union minister Smriti Irani reacted to the report card that the Congress gave her amid national outrage over the shocking video of two Kuki women paraded naked in Manipur.

The verdict of the report card is: Failed. The women and child development minister was clueless about women’s plight and wakes up after two months, the Congress’s report card said. The minister reacted to the report card and said the Congress, on the other hand, scores well on two counts — depravity and wilful ignorance.

“There are depths of depravity very few are capable of — keeping a score card re women. There are instances of wilful ignorance very few incessantly exhibit. On both counts – depravity and wilful ignorance- CONgress scores well. Discuss in Parliament if the dynasty permits,” Smriti Irani tweeted.

Trinamool Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra retorted and asked the minister to buy a dictionary to know the meaning of ‘depravity’. “Sorry WCD Minister. This isn’t Depravity. Depravity is BJP deflecting Manipur issue with all out fake news assault in other states. When PM, HM & WCD keep mum while our sisters die. Depravity is when your chair can’t protect our wrestlers. Buy a dictionary. If MaunGuru permits,” Mahua tweeted.

Amid the intense political slugfest over the shocking Manipur video over which the Congress cornered the BJP which ruled Manipur, BJP ministers and leaders are citing examples of other states where similar incidents of atrocities on women took place, and accused the Congress of silence.

The Congress is a mute spectator to the atrocity of women in West Bengal and turns deaf in Rajasthan, Smriti Irani said.

Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said Smriti Irani’s silence embodies the ‘depths of depravity’. “You kept quiet for 78 days, and what you spoke is worse than your silence. You have FAILED. Read that again. A FAILED WCD Minister,” Shrinate tweeted.

Atrocities against women in Manipur, Rajasthan, West Bengal

On July 18-19, a video of two women being paraded naked in Manipur surfaced triggering nationwide condemnation. The incident took place on May 4, a day after the ethnic clash between the Meiteis and the Kukis broke out in the northeastern state. An FIR was filed but the arrests were made only after the video went viral. The Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance and said if the government does not take action, the top court will.

As the united opposition held the BJP responsible for it, the BJP countered Manipur with Rajasthan where four members of a family, including a six-month-old, were burnt to death. The Rajasthan government sacked Rajender Singh Gudha after he said women in Rajasthan are not safe. Questioning the sacking, Union minister Anurag Thakur said over one lakh incidents of women atrocities took place in Rajasthan in the last 4 years. “Rajasthan has become the number one state in crime against women. 22% rape cases in India are from Rajasthan. Instead of taking any steps against the criminals, CM Ashok Gehlot sacked one of his ministers Rajendra Gudha on the direction of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi,” Anurag Thakur said.

In West Bengal’s Malda, the BJP claimed, two women were stripped and assaulted on the suspicion of theft earlier this week.