Chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Swati Maliwal said on Sunday that she has decided to visit Manipur to meet the survivors of sexual assault, despite the state government asking her to postpone her visit to the ethnic violence-hit state.
The DCW chairperson declared her intention to visit Manipur after a video surfaced where a mob paraded two women naked and allegedly gang-raped them.
Maliwal took to Twitter to write, “Manipur Govt recommended I consider postponing my visit due to law and order situation. After deliberation on their suggestion, have decided to fly to Imphal as planned. Sought time from Manipur CM [N Biren Singh]. [I] will meet him & request him to come along to visit the sexual assault survivors.”
According to her, the Manipur government’s Joint Secretary had requested her to postpone her visit to Manipur as the current law and order situation in the state ‘is not good’.
“Manipur government wants me to reconsider my decision. I gave it a lot of thought and I have decided to visit Manipur. I am appealing to the state government not to stop me but make arrangements so that I can meet the sexual assault survivors and provide help,” Maliwal told news agency ANI.
She further added, “I only want to visit Manipur to help the victims. I am appealing to the state government to allow me to visit Manipur and arrange my visit to the relief camps where these victims are staying.
“I am going there only as an activist, as a woman. I know that there is a risk involved, but we all have seen that video which is heart-wrenching. I want to help and know if those girls have been provided help. I can assure the government that I will not create any problems, but only meet the victims and help the government. It is important that I visit Manipur, and I’m going.”
Maliwal shared the letter that she wrote to the Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, wherein she said, “As you are aware, I had sought your support in visiting the relief camps housing victims of sexual violence in Manipur… The video of inhuman atrocities against women and girls in Manipur has shocked the nation and I wish to ascertain their wellbeing and provide support to them.
“Subsequently… the Joint Secretary (Home)… confirmed to us that we can travel to Manipur and he shall provide the necessary support to us in visiting the relief camps. Subsequently, we planned our travel to Imphal. However, suddenly we received an email… requesting us to consider postponing our visit in view of the current law and order situation in Manipur.
“I would like to reiterate that the purpose of the visit is to meet with the sexual assault survivors and their families and provide support to them. In an interview on national television, you have also mentioned that hundreds of such cases have been registered in Manipur in the past three months. Hence, it is important that due support and help reaches these survivors of sexual assault in their worst hour of need. I assure you that I shall leave no stone unturned to support the Manipur Government in its mandate to protect the rights and dignity of the women and girls of the state.
“Hence, after due deliberation… I have decided that I shall continue with the plan on reaching Imphal today… Further, several Manipuri women have come to Delhi in order to escape the ongoing violence in the state. I wish to discuss issues regarding their welfare as well… Further, I also seek your support in visiting the violence affected relief camps where the victims of sexual assault are presently staying… I assure you that I shall not be doing anything that creates a problem for your Government during my visit to the state.”
Copyright © 2025 Top Indian News
