KOLKATA: In a bold move that capitalized on the trending frenzy surrounding the Hollywood film “Oppenheimer,” the Trinamool Congress (TMC) of West Bengal vehemently lambasted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led central government over its response to the Manipur violence. As the monsoon session of Parliament commenced, opposition parties united to demand a thorough discussion on the ongoing crisis in Manipur, while the TMC took inspiration from the popular film to deliver a scathing critique of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s perceived silence and inaction.
Titled “Modenheimer,” the TMC’s poster depicted PM Modi’s photo, resembling the film’s main lead, alongside the names of key ministers in the government. The TMC accused the Prime Minister and the ruling party of being unresponsive and seemingly indifferent to the suffering of the people affected by the tragic events in Manipur.
TMC’s tweet introducing the poster stated, “The NDA Production brings to you ‘Modenheimer,’ the story of an ordinary man who became Death, the destroyer of worlds.” Through this striking analogy, the ruling party of West Bengal cleverly highlighted their criticism of the Prime Minister’s perceived inaction and seeming detachment in the face of the people’s suffering, raising pertinent questions about his role in protecting and representing the nation.
With the Parliament monsoon session in full swing, the spotlight remains firmly fixed on the Manipur issue, with the opposition continuing to hold the government accountable and pressing for comprehensive explanations from the highest levels of power.
As the monsoon session of Parliament commenced, the opposition parties united in demanding a thorough discussion on the ongoing Manipur violence. The “INDIA” alliance representatives held a crucial meeting at the chamber of Mallikarjun Kharge in the Parliament complex to strategize their approach during the session. The trigger for their intensified demand came when a distressing video emerged, showing the heinous incident that occurred in Manipur in May. The video depicted two women from the Kuki-Zo tribe being paraded naked after enduring a horrifying gang-rape.
Accusing the BJP-led central government of neglecting Manipur, the opposition parties were relentless in demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement on the crisis. Although the Prime Minister briefly mentioned the appalling incident during his speech at the beginning of the monsoon session, the opposition continued to press for a more comprehensive response.
TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien invoked rule 267 in Rajya Sabha, urging the suspension of any rule to allow for a discussion on Manipur’s situation. He further emphasized the need for a detailed dialogue on the matter in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, echoing the sentiments of the entire opposition alliance.
Senior Congress leader and MP Pramod Tiwari stressed the importance of discussing the ethnic violence in Manipur, given its international border implications and the ongoing community clashes.
Meanwhile, Manoj Jha, Rajya Sabha MP from RJD, submitted a letter to the Chairman, Rajya Sabha, under rule 276, moving a motion for adjournment of the House’s business to address the prolonged ethnic violence in Manipur that had been persisting for over two months.
The escalating ethnic violence in Manipur had already claimed numerous lives and left many others injured. The situation became so dire that several people from the state were compelled to flee and seek refuge in other states.