PM raises West Bengal flogging case: ‘Pro-women leaders have locked their mouths’

Highlighting the public flogging of a couple in West Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday questioned the silence of “those who consider themselves progressive pro-women leaders” and said that the selective approach of the Opposition on atrocities on women is “worrying”.

In his reply on the Motion of thanks to the President’s address in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, the PM said, “It is unfortunate for the country when politics is done on such sensitive issues. People of the country, and especially women, have to go through pain. The selective approach of the Opposition on atrocities against women – it is worrying.”

Referring to the incident from West Bengal’s Uttar Dinajpur district, in which a TMC functionary is the accused, Modi said, “I want to tell the country. I am not speaking against a specific state and I am not trying to score a political point. But a little while ago, I saw some visuals on social media which had come from Bengal. A woman is being beaten up on the road in public. She is crying, but no one standing there helps her, they are instead shooting videos. And the incident in Sandeshkhali. The visuals give goosebumps.”

“I have been hearing the veterans since yesterday. No pain is being reflected in their words. What visuals can be more shameful and painful. Those who consider themselves progressive pro-women leaders, they have also locked their mouths. Because the incident related to a party which they have political connection with. Hence, you are letting it happen quietly. Speaker sir, the way veterans are ignoring these things, then the country has to go through pain, and more pain is caused to our mothers and sisters,” he said.

On Sunday, a video went viral showing the public flogging of a