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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 8:56:24 pm

Rahul Gandhi to girls: ‘Smash Patriarchy’

Says, girls are being relegated to remain caged, but boys get full freedom to do whatever they want Pune : In an all-out attack on the ancient ‘Manusmriti’ social code, Congress Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi issued a clarion call to “Smash Patriarcy” which seeks to control, confine and silence women, while denying them freedom, dignity, safety and economic independence. Speaking in bouts at the fourth edition of ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ in Pune, Rahul Gandhi bluntly told thousands...

Rahul Gandhi to girls: ‘Smash Patriarchy’

Says, girls are being relegated to remain caged, but boys get full freedom to do whatever they want Pune : In an all-out attack on the ancient ‘Manusmriti’ social code, Congress Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi issued a clarion call to “Smash Patriarcy” which seeks to control, confine and silence women, while denying them freedom, dignity, safety and economic independence. Speaking in bouts at the fourth edition of ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ in Pune, Rahul Gandhi bluntly told thousands of young women to be “loud, proud, and fight for their space rather than live in fear of men or social diktats” – amidst intermittent roars of approval or thundering applause, and cheers of ‘Rahul, Rahul’ booming inside and outside the venue. Touching some sensitive issues, the Congress leader - sporting a stunning yellow shirt symbolising ‘hope’ - said women had historically been portrayed in a poor light and continued to face discrimination at virtually every stage of life, due to ‘Manusmriti’. “India’s 70-cr women are its biggest asset, they are more forward-looking than men. Women are the strength of India, yet they are given a raw deal at all levels. Over 450,000 girls are killed in female feticide annually in India,” Rahul Gandhi thundered. He explained how ‘control’ over women begins early and in different ways forcing them to abandon education, face discrimination at home, work places, in society till they reach “a marriageable age”, and even later on in life. “Girls are being relegated to remain caged, but boys get full freedom to do whatever they want. We don’t want such a nation. Break this cage,” he exhorted the gathering, and showed video clips of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders to emphasise his points. Rahul Gandhi then asked the audience whether men tried to control them in different aspects of their lives. The response was an emphatic and stormy “Yes…! Yes…!” Continuing, he said control of women takes several forms - violence, disrespect, restrictions on time and movement, and pressure to conform - and often disguised as empty concerns: “Kuchh ho gaya to…?”, as the 15,000 crowd roared its approval. Reeling off figures on women’s mobility, education, property ownership and safety, Rahul Gandhi said the consequences of all went far beyond physical violence, leading to a “violence of opportunity” and even imposing an additional financial burden on women for their own safety annually. He pointed to the deep-rooted expectations – which many women who joined him on the state also expressed - that sons would “look after parents while daughters would eventually get married and leave”, a typical mindset that perpetuates discrimination against girls even today. Reiterating that women are the foundation and future of India, and the ‘cage’ around them must be broken, Rahul Gandhi made a direct emotional, personal and political appeal: “We want justice and respect for all, including the boys. Help to bring the women out of their fears…”

Discussions on among allies for govt formation: Ajit Pawar

Updated: Nov 29, 2024

Ajit Pawar

Mumbai: Deputy Chief Minister and NCP head Ajit Pawar on Monday said discussions were underway among the Mahayuti partners to finalise a formula for the new government formation in the state.


Speaking to reporters at Karad in Satara district, Pawar also acknowledged the contribution of the government's Ladki Bahin scheme, which provides financial assistance to women, in the Mahayuti's victory in the just-concluded state assembly polls.


The NCP leader also assured that the alliance was working cohesively following its resounding victory in the state assembly elections.


Pawar paid tributes to Maharashtra's first chief minister Yashwantrao Chavan at his memorial in Karad on his death anniversary.


In the state poll results declared on Saturday, the Mahayuti, which comprises the BJP, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP, bagged an impressive 230 of the 288 assembly seats.


The focus has been on BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is being seen as a strong contender to occupy the top post for the third time, as his party bagged 132 of the 149 seats it contested in the state.


Notably, Maharashtra minister and Shiv Sena leader Deepak Kesarkar has said his party legislators feel Eknath Shinde should continue as the chief minister of the state, where the ruling Mahayuti scored a landslide victory in the assembly polls.


Ajit Pawar said, "We will decide what formula to work out on the cabinet formation among the three parties."


Reflecting on the elections, he acknowledged the contribution of the Ladki Bahin scheme in the Mahayuti's win.


"We cannot ignore that Ladki Bahin helped us in this election. We are grateful to them (women voters)," he said.


Defending the scheme, Pawar, who is also the state finance minister, further said, "Had I been opposed to the Ladki Bahin scheme, I would not have presented it in the House. I discussed the scheme with several retired finance officers before finalising it."


Pawar also dismissed concerns raised by some opposition leaders over the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), pointing out that polls in states like Punjab, West Bengal and Telangana, governed by their political opponents, have been conducted with the same system.


Commenting on members of same families contesting against each other during the elections, Pawar expressed annoyance over repeated questions on it.


He then asked, "Why was my close nephew fielded? Atram's own daughter was fielded against him, and even Rajendra Shingne faced a similar challenge. I don't want to comment further on this. I have got tired of apologising for fielding my wife against Supriya. Yugendra was in business, then why was he prepared to contest against me?"


In the Baramati assembly seat, Ajit Pawar was pitted against his nephew and NCP (SP) candidate Yugendra Pawar.


In Aheri seat, NCP leader Dharamraobaba Atram's daughter Bhagyashree Atram contested against him on NCP (SP) ticket.

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