"Seek your intervention..." DCW chief Swati Maliwal writes to PM Modi over Manipur viral video issue
Jul 20, 2023
New Delhi [India], July 20 : The Delhi Commission for Women chairperson Swati Maliwal on Thursday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately take urgent steps to curb violence in Manipur and protect the dignity and safety of all its citizens while seeking his intervention in seeking justice for the victims of the violence.
Maliwal wrote a letter to PM Modi after a video showing two women being paraded naked and sexually assaulted went viral and termed the incident deeply "disturbing".
In her letter, Maliwal urged PM Modi to immediately visit Manipur to take stock of the situation and stand by Manipuri women in their hour of need.
"It is extremely sad that to date neither the Union Minister for Women and Children nor the Chairperson of the National Commission for Women have bothered to visit the state to assess the nature of crimes being perpetrated against the women and girls therein. In light of the severity of the situation and the urgency to understand the ground realities, and as a citizen of this country," the letter stated.
Taking a dig over its failure to restore peace in Manipur, Swati Maliwal wrote in her letter addressed to PM Modi, "Furthermore, the silence and inaction of the Union Government for the past three months in condemning the ongoing Manipur violence and taking steps to curb it is deeply troubling. It is the duty of the Centre to provide assurance and a sense of security to the people of Manipur in their worst times of need. I implore your self to immediately take urgent steps to curb violence in Manipur and protect the dignity and safety of all its citizens".
Calling the Manipur video extremely disturbing, Maliwal wrote, "I pen this letter with a heavy heart and a soul burdened with immense grief and horror. As a woman, I find myself deeply disturbed and anguished after witnessing the distressing video that has surfaced from Manipur, capturing the heinous act of violence against two women. The brutality and depravity displayed in the video have left me unable to sleep at night, haunted by the trauma of such an appalling crime against women".
According to the letter, Maliwal plans a visit to the state to meet with the survivors of violence and present a fact-finding report to the government at the earliest.
"I also request your intervention in ensuring that the local authorities expedite the process of apprehending all the culprits in this sickening act and that the survivors and their families are provided with the necessary support and protection. Strongest action needs to be also taken against the erring police officers who failed to act swiftly in the matter. The passage of over two and a half months without any arrests is inexcusable and requires immediate corrective measures," the letter further stated.