More and more skeletons are tumbling out of the Manipur cupboards and they are all very troubling. It is now learnt that the National Commission for Women (NCW), Chief Rekha Sharma received a complaint letter from the women who were paraded naked, groped and later raped and that she had written to the Government of Manipur as far back as May 23, 29 and June 19 but received no responses from them. So she left the matter at that. How convenient! Rekha Sharma in her own defence says her role is advisory in nature. The lady apparently has not read the fine print of the powers and functions of the NCW. Under her leadership the State Commissions for Women cannot be expected to function any better. But what better can be expected from political appointees? If Rekha Sharma had understood the grave responsibility placed on her as an advocate of women’s rights and if she was a gender sensitive person, her soul would have been stirred to take a flight to Manipur and see for herself if there was any basis to the complaints. In fact she should have met the complainants in person because Manipur is in a state of war and not just any other state. But Sharma failed to do any of that. However, she is very quick at reacting to cases of abuse of women in Rajasthan and West Bengal obviously because these are non-BJP ruled states. Isn’t this the height of political partisanship? Or was Rekha Sharma told before she took charge of the Commission that she would have to toe the BJP line?
Interestingly the Member in Charge of the North East Cell in the NCW is from Meghalaya. From her social media accounts it appears that she has used her time in the NCW very well by visiting several states across the country such as Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat etc. She recently visited Nagaland but Manipur did not beckon her. Anyone in her place who understands the brief of her appointment would have insisted to the NCW that an official visit be made to Manipur more so when letters of complaints had arrived at the desk of the Chairperson. But that was of no concern because the Chairperson had probably made the brief of the Commission clear to other members which is to keep their hands off the BJP-ruled states.
In this gross abdication of duty the entire Commission stands indicted and women activists ought to make an issue of this injustice where the NCW Chief has made light of the quasi-judicial powers and the right to investigate and summon witnesses that the Commission has vested on her. Clearly the highest body created to protect women’s rights has failed them.