During a passionate address in the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister Smriti Irani accused the Opposition of lacking the courage to discuss the atrocities against women in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Bihar. She also directed her ire at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of igniting unrest in Manipur.
The heated exchange occurred during the Question Hour when Congress MP Amee Yajnik inquired about the Manipur violence and whether women ministers would address the issue.
An indignant Smriti Irani rose to her feet and reprimanded the opposition parties for not raising their voices against crimes targeting women in states not governed by the BJP.
“I strongly object to this because women ministers and politicians have spoken out, not only about Manipur but also about Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Bihar. Tell me, when will you muster the courage to discuss Rajasthan? When will you have the guts to address Chhattisgarh’s issues? When will you show the bravery to confront the happenings in Bihar?” Irani exclaimed.
She further challenged the Opposition to address incidents of rape occurring in Congress-ruled states and accused Rahul Gandhi of inciting the turmoil in Manipur. Irani vehemently defended the women ministers in her cabinet and received resounding support from her party MPs.
The Monsoon session of Parliament, which began on July 20, has been marked by several confrontations between the Opposition and the treasury.
The Opposition has demanded a statement from the Prime Minister regarding the Manipur situation in Parliament, while the BJP-led government has accused them of not fostering a conducive environment for discussions.
Both sides have submitted numerous adjournment notices to support their respective demands.
The violence in Manipur, which erupted in May, resulted in the deaths of over 160 people and left hundreds injured. The unrest began on May 3 following a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ held in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
The government faced further criticism from the Opposition after a video of two tribal women being paraded naked in Manipur went viral. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the situation publicly for the first time since May in response to this incident.
