Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 29 Jul: Uttarakhand Mahila Congress workers staged a strong protest at Astley Hall Chowk here today against Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi and burnt his effigy. They were led by Uttarakhand Pradesh Mahila Congress president Jyoti Rautela.
Addressing the gathering, Rautela claimed that the statement allegedly made by Joshi in support of a rape accused was extremely unfortunate and condemnable. She remarked that leaders who insult the women should first introspect on their conduct and thoughts. She accused the BJP and its leaders of having an anti‑women mindset from the beginning and of continuously ignoring women’s dignity and rights. She called upon the women of Uttarakhand to raise their voices on the streets in a democratic manner against those who do not respect women.
Rautela also claimed that the issues of women, youth and the unemployed are being consistently neglected in the state and the country. She alleged that the government is trying to divert attention from the real public issues and that those holding responsible positions are giving irresponsible statements which send wrong messages to society. She affirmed that the Mahila Congress will continue its struggle to safeguard the dignity and rights of women and that awareness campaigns and democratic movements will be carried out across the state against such statements and anti‑women attitudes.
On the occasion, Pradesh Congress Election Campaign Committee president and former Pradesh Congress Committee president Pritam Singh said that it is highly unfortunate and an insult to women that a person accused of honouring rape accused has been entrusted with the important responsibility of the Ministry of Education. He said that the Ministry of Education is directly linked to the future of youth and the moral values of the country and handing over such a crucial ministry to Joshi is regrettable. He launched a sharp attack on the state government, saying that the BJP government in the state has completely failed and that the onset of monsoon has exposed the reality of its development works. He added that the entire country is distressed with the functioning of the government and just as the BJP came to power by misleading the people, in the same way the people will now remove them from power.
Among those present on the occasion were former MLA Rajkumar, Mahanagar Congress president Jasvinder Singh Gogi, Pradesh Mahila vice president Asha Manorama Dobriyal, Najma Khan, Chandrakala Negi, Poonam Bisht, Anuradha Tiwari, Sangeeta Gupta, Savita Sonkar, Nirmala, Sangeeta Saklani, Deepa Chauhan, Devendra, Rekha Dhingra, Savitri Thapa and many others.
