Women’s March for Rights in Varanasi
Faces Yogi Government’s Ire, Police Lodges Cases against Marchers
A large number of women, social activists and prominent citizens took part in the Women’s march for rights on the Constitution Day on 26 November in PM Modi’s constituency Varanasi. They asserted the real issues against the attempts to divert attention by raising the issue of Ram Mandir and the hollow claims of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. The marchers criticized increased atrocities and discrimination against women under Yogi Raj and demanded concrete measures instead of farce of ‘Beti Bachao’ rhetoric. The march was duly planned after taking administrative consent, but just half an hour before district administration quite vindictively revoked the permission while the marchers were already assembled and advancing. The Varanasi administration has now lodged cases against dozens of activists and prominent citizens including retired Prof. Chauthiram Yadav, writer V.K. Singh, AIPWA National General Secretary Meena Tiwary and UP Secretary Kusum Verma and CPI(ML) Central Committee member Manish Sharma.
The march started from Railway station towards the PM’s local office in Ravinder Puri as was scheduled to submit a memorandum to the PM who also is their elected representative from Varanasi. While the PMO office refused to even accept the memorandum, all the marchers were subjected to face criminal charges.
AIPWA leader Meena Tiwary condemned this repressive act and said that various schemes and plans meant to benefit women have proved total farce and most pertinent issues of women like health, education, employment etc continues to be neglected. This can only be countered through more increased women’s resistance. She also termed Modi government’s whole gamut of policy framework regarding women as anti-Constitution. She condemned the government for spending hundreds of crores of funds on useless Swachh Bharat propaganda while it is not providing even land for building toilets in villages and continues to sexually harass women by getting them photographed or make them run by whistle blowing campaigns. She hailed BHU women students’ struggle against sexual harassment which had showed a mirror to Modi government’s farce of ‘Beti Bacho-Beti Padhao’ with their slogan ‘Parhegi Beti, Larhegi Beti, Nahi Kisi Se Daregi Beti’.
Rajiv Yadav, General Secretary of Rihai Manch, also addressed the marchers. He said BJP government must stop attempt to communalise the nation with Mandir frenzy, and come clear on whether it is ready to fight for the women’s right to enter into the Sabarimala temple? There are plenty of incidents where Dalits are oppressed for trying to enter mandirs, girl students were lathicharged for raising their voice against eve teasing, and minorities and dalit citizens were subjected to fake encounters. He condemned the communal elements for insulting Constitution by trying to flame frenzy in name of Mandir on the eve of the Constitution Day.
Prof. Chauthiram Yadav said that fascist ideology of RSS-BJP has impacted badly on the plight of women in the country, while at the same time it’s heartening to know that women are rising and building a new culture of resistance to be on the forefront of the struggle for a revolutionary change. AIPWA state convener Smita Bagde said dalit and Adivasi women have to face the most brutal form of oppression as they also face brunt of displacement from their own lands. Dr. Noor Fatima said PM office not accepting the women’s memorandum exposes the true character behind BJP’s ‘Beti Bachao’ slogan. She said this is a government of Jumlas and falsehood.
The protesters were also addressed by Prof. M. Arif of All India Secular Forum, VK Singh, Sutapa Gupta, Sujata Bhattacharya, Vibha, Vibha Vahi, Archana, BHU research scholar Pragya Pathak, Inquilabi Naujavan Sabha leader Rakesh Singh and Kamlesh Yadav, AIPWA leaders Jira Bharati, Saroj, Hansa, Shanti Kol, Munni, Kabutara, Anita, Manju, Chandrawati, Gaina, Rukhsana, Noor Jahan, Vidya and AIPWA UP secretary Kusum Verma.
Comrade Sudhakar Yadav, CPI(ML) state secretary in UP, while condemning the imposition of false cases on activists, has demanded immediate withdrawal of all charges. It is deplorable that the people of Varanasi are being oppressed for merely submiting a memorandum to their own elected representative, he added.
