A BJP MLA said in the Assembly on Monday that atrocities against women in Manipur were “by-products” of ethnic clashes in the northeastern state, a remark that was called out as an attempt to normalise the situation.

Englishbazar MLA Shreerupa Mitra Chaudhury made the remark during a discussion in the Bengal Assembly on a motion that condemned the violence in Manipur.

Six BJP MLAs led by the leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, spoke against the motion.

Chaudhury was the third speaker from the Opposition benches after Shankar Ghosh and Hiranmoy Chatterjee. During her address, Chaudhury said 122 members, including India, of the United Nations General Assembly had adopted a resolution in 2014, saying women were always victimised during ethnic clashes and armed strifes.

“So what happened in Manipur was a by-product of ethnic clashes. We should not compare it with the Nirbhaya case or what happened to the women in this state,” Chaudhury said.

She listed some incidents in Bengal where women were raped or sexually assaulted and said such cases were the results of the failure of the state machinery and the law and order system.

Although Chaudhury did not refer to any particular event, she apparently hinted at the May 4 incident of two disrobed Kuki women being paraded by men in Manipur. She said such incidents were a result of clashes between the Meitei and Kuki tribes, whereas women in Bengal are suffering because of the failure of the state administration.

Educationist Miratun Nahar said while it was true that sections of society such as women, the elderly and children were victimised during any sort of clash, to dub what happened in Manipur a “by-product” of the strife would be an attempt to normalise the situation.

“We always expect the people in power to provide security to the citizens and ensure that such attacks do not happen. But when lawmakers themselves make such comments, it is insensitive and reprehensible,” she said.

Nahar added that given the orthodox attitude of the Sangh parivar, it could be said they had a gender-discriminatory attitude, which was reflected in Chaudhury’s comments.

Leena Gangopadhyay, the chairperson of the West Bengal Women’s Commission, said she was appalled by the MLA’s comments. “Does she mean that what happened in Manipur is justified because it happened as a part of ethnic clashes?” Gangopadhyay asked.

Reacting to the allegations, Chaudhury said she did not try to trivialise the situation in the northeastern state but only pointed to the differences between the two kinds of crimes against women. She added that her address was inspired by a statement made by Oswald Gracias, a Mumbai-based cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. Cardinal Gracias had said in a recent video statement that the strife in Manipur was
not religious but ethnic in nature.

Speaker vs Suvendu

Speaker Biman Banerjee on Monday admonished the leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, for some of his remarks questioning the legitimacy of the resolution on the Manipur turmoil.

Banerjee warned the BJP leader against threats of legal action and reminded him of the need for decorum.

When chief minister Mamata Banerjee spoke on the subject, Adhikari kept claiming that the Bengal Assembly had no business discussing the law and order — a State subject according to the Constitution — of another state and the matter was sub judice.

The Speaker underscored the fact that the BJP legislature party participated in the process. “You (Adhikari) did not even go through the motion properly… if you did, you would have known why we are well within our rights to do this. If you thought this is illegitimate, you would not have taken part in the discussion,” said the Speaker.

“You, however, did (participate), and you were duly heard. Suvendubabu, you have to listen as well. Only tearing up papers (as a dramatic gesture of protest) will not do,” he added.

The BJP’s Nandigram MLA later threatened to get the Assembly of every BJP-ruled state in the country, starting with Uttar Pradesh, to pass similar resolutions against alleged crimes against women and the “collapse” of law and order in Bengal under Mamata.

Responding to Adhikari’s finger-wagging at him, threatening legal action against the motion, the Speaker said the doors of the judiciary were
not open exclusively for the BJP.

“You should remember, Mr Adhikari, the judiciary is not yours alone to approach,” said the Speaker.

Additional reporting by Meghdeep
Bhattacharyya