By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 24 Apr: One day after the Congress staged a dharna on the issue of women reservation bill in Dehradun yesterday, it was the turn of the ruling BJP to hold a march on the same issue targeting the Opposition. The march was led by none other than Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and was titled Jan Aakrosh Rally. In the rally, Dhami not only strongly attacked the Congress and the opposition but also targeted Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi by comparing him to Mahabharata character Duryodhan. He also compared SP leader Akhilesh Yadav with another Mahabharata character, Dushashan.
The BJP today staged a major show of strength through a women-led ‘Jan Aakrosh’ rally and padyatra in the state capital, sharpening its attack on the Congress and its allies over the issue of women’s reservation and the broader question of political intent. The event, marked by high-pitched rhetoric and significant participation from the party workers as well as women’s organisations was clearly aimed to consolidate the BJP’s narrative on women’s empowerment while placing the Opposition firmly on the defensive.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami joined thousands of women at the Parade Ground today and later led the march up to Ghantaghar, turning the mobilisation into a significant political statement amid the ongoing national debate on the Nari Shakti Vandan Bill. The rally assumes added importance in the backdrop of intensifying confrontation between the BJP and the Congress, both at the national and state levels particularly keeping the upcoming assembly elections in the state early next year.
Addressing the gathering, Dhami launched a sharp attack on the Congress leadership, accusing it of adopting a stance contrary to the interests of women when the country was focused on ensuring greater political representation for them. He alleged that the Opposition’s conduct during the parliamentary phase of the women’s reservation initiative reflected disregard for women’s rights and suggested that political expediency had prevailed over genuine commitment. Employing a striking analogy from the Mahabharata, he likened the Congress to the Kaurava camp and he described Rahul Gandhi as having the mindset of Duryodhana and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav as akin to Dushasana.
The CM further accused the Congress of perpetuating dynastic politics even in matters of women’s empowerment, arguing that opportunities within the party had historically remained confined to a single family. Dhami observed that genuine empowerment required a broad-based inclusion rather than selective advancement and he alleged that the Congress had failed to promote women from ordinary backgrounds in a meaningful manner. Referring to campaign slogans of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi and other Congress leaders, like “ladki hoon, lad sakti hoon”, he contended that substantial resources had been spent on such slogans without any corresponding political will when decisive action was required in Parliament.
Dhami asserted that the failure to secure passage of the women’s reservation legislation is the result of deliberate obstruction by the Opposition. He termed this outcome as a grave injustice to the women of the country. The CM said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, women’s empowerment has been placed at the centre of governance, with initiatives such as Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Ujjwala Yojana and Jan Dhan Yojana enabling millions of women to gain economic independence and social security. He added that schemes like the Lakhpati Didi initiative and support for self-help groups are further strengthening women’s participation in economic activity.
Reminding the gathering of the state government’s efforts, Dhami said Uttarakhand had taken several steps towards women’s welfare and empowerment, including 30 per cent reservation for women in government services and the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) aimed at safeguarding their rights. He noted that through schemes such as the rural livelihood mission, Sashakt Bahna Utsav Yojana and the Chief Minister’s Women Self-Help Group Empowerment Scheme, women were being linked to sustainable livelihood opportunities. He reminded that more than 2.65 lakh women in the state have already progressed towards becoming ‘Lakhpati Didis’.
Dhami also reiterated that the Nari Shakti Vandan initiative was brought to ensure rightful representation for women in the democratic framework, but alleged that the Opposition had conspired to stall it in Parliament. He maintained that women across the country are now aware and would raise their voice against such actions.
The rally and padyatra witnessed enthusiastic participation from women, with visible anger directed against the Congress and its allies over their stand on women’s reservation. The mobilisation reflected the BJP’s strategy to carry the political contest beyond legislative forums and into the public domain, shaping perceptions ahead of forthcoming political engagements.
Among those present on the occasion were Rajya Sabha MP Mahendra Bhatt, MP Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah, MLAs Savita Kapoor, Asha Nautiyal, Renu Bisht, Ruchi Bhatt, BJP general secretary Deepti Rawat and Secretary Neha Joshi, along with party functionaries Himani and Rashmi Rastogi, besides a large number of women supporters.
