Speaking about the horrific Kathua and Unnao rapes which have left the nation shocked and disgusted, former prime minister Manmohan Singh took a dig at Narendra Modi, saying that the latter “should follow his own advice to me” and “speak more often”.
In an exclusive interview with The Indian Express, Singh said that he was glad that Modi has finally broken his prolonged silence regarding the incidents on Ambedkar Jayanti. However, he added that the latter’s delay in raising the issue earlier had allowed people to believe that one could get away with heinous crimes without being penalised.
He said that while the state governments are responsible for the enforcement of law and order in their respective states, the Centre should send them instructions on how to bring it under control.
Singh also addressed the growing concern in the banking sector, in terms of the number of scams that have come to light in the recent months, saying that it called for the “sector to be overhauled”.
On Modi’s Silence Regarding the Kathua, Unnao & Surat Rape Cases
Asking Prime Minister Modi to practice what he was preaching, Singh said that he should learn to speak up more, in matters such as these. Singh added that while he was glad that Modi had finally addressed the issue on Ambedkar Jayanti, he should have done it earlier, because it would have sent the “right kind of signals” to those in his party and those in the coalition in J&K.
I do feel that those in authority must speak up in time (so as) to give a lead to their followers.Manmohan Singh to The Indian Express
On Political Handling of the Rape Cases
Speaking about the current political environment that has witnessed these tragic incidents of crime, the former prime minister said that the need for the ruling party to take necessary action, by changing the very laws around rape, was of an imperative nature.
Referring to the Nirbhaya case of 2012, where a young woman was brutally raped and beaten in a bus in Delhi, Singh said that the Congress, who had been in power at the time, had done precisely this.
On BJP Leaders Accused of Supporting Kathua Rape Accused
Speaking specifically about the Kathua rape case, where two BJP leaders and several lawyers were accused of having publicly supported the accused and stalling the case, Singh lay the blame for the incident on the acting authorities – both within the BJP and Mehbooba Mufti factions.
Stating that Mufti was possibly under pressure from the BJP to delay the proceedings in the case, he added:
Obviously in a coalition there is give and take, but if it is carried to such an extent that you can condone the sad demise of an eight-year-old girl having been raped and kept for a week in a temple is the most shocking thing.Manmohan Singh to The Indian Express
On Law and Order
Speaking about the alarming rise of communalism and violence in various states across India, Singh said that it was the “responsibility” of the state governments to enforce law and order.
However, he also said that the Centre should provide the states with guidelines on how to get this done.
It would appear at least in some states, like in Rajasthan and in Madhya Pradesh (the BJP is turning a blind eye). These incidents would not happen if the governments acted on time.Manmohan Singh to The Indian Express
On Scams in the Banking Sector
The baking sector is not in good shape, said Singh, but he also stated that the fault didn’t lie with the public sector alone. To him, the banking sector needs to be overhauled, especially after the “second largest private sector bank has also got involved in this mess.”
He also added that the fact that the ruling government “doesn’t take care of legislative issues or Budget matters is a sad commentary of the way the government has managed Parliament.”
(With inputs from The Indian Express)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)