Manipur: Smriti Irani vs opposition over ‘report card’ about her on Manipur violence | India News

NEW DELHI: Women and child development (WCD) minister Smriti Irani and the opposition engaged in a fierce war of words after the Congress released a “report card” on her response to the Manipur violence.

After Irani reacted to the so-called report card, leaders of the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and TMC mocked and condemned her reply.
The Congress, in a tweet, said, “Smriti Irani’s Report Card: FAILED,” with a thumbs down emoji.

The “report card” alleged that the minister is silent on Manipur violence. On sexual assault in Manipur, it said, she is “clueless” about women’s plight and woke up after two months.
In final remarks, the report card said, “How ignorant!!! Mrs Smriti Irani.”
In a hard-hitting response, Irani labelled the Congress’s tweet as depraved. Mocking the opposition party, she played on the party’s name and wrote it as “CONgress” and asked it to discuss the Manipur violence in Parliament..
The minister said, “There are depths of depravity very few are capable of – keeping a scorecard re women. There are instances of wilful ignorance very few incessantly exhibit. On both counts – depravity and wilful ignorance – CONgress scores well. Discuss in Parliament if the dynasty permits.”
The opposition leaders tagged Irani’s tweet and hit back at her.
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said, “When women are attacked under the watch of her government, Smriti ji forgets she is women and child development Minister. When she is questioned over her failures as a minister, she chooses to hide behind the gender argument.”

Another Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate replied saying Irani has failed as a WCD minister. “Depths of depravity? Your conspicuous silence on gruesome crime against women embodies that. You kept quiet for 78 days, and what you spoke is worse than your silence. You have FAILED. Read that again. A FAILED WCD Minister. And why is the PM so scared to face Parliament?”

Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said the words “depravity” and “wilful ignorance” applied on the central government, WCD ministry and National Commission for Women (NCW).
Chaturvedi said, “Depravity ~ the state of being morally bad e.g.: Inability to control violence in Manipur or seek accountability from CM. Wilful ignorance ~ A decision in bad faith to avoid becoming informed about something so as to avoid having to make undesirable decisions that such information might prompt. e.g.: Choosing silence and turning a blind eye to the heinous incidents against women in Manipur. So yes, both your choice of words describe GoI, WCD and NCW the best.”

TMC Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra also criticised Irani for the use of word “depravity”.
Moitra said, “Sorry WCD minister. This isn’t depravity. Depravity is BJP deflecting Manipur issue with all out fake news assault in other states. When PM, HM (home minister) and WCD keep mum while our sisters die. Depravity is when your chair can’t protect our wrestlers. Buy a dictionary. If MaunGuru permits.”