Title: Women’s Rights Conference Held in Chennai, India: Prominent Leaders Advocate for Gender Equality
Date: October 14, 2022
A women’s rights conference organized by the DMK Women’s Team took place on October 14 at the YMCA ground in Rayapetta, Chennai. The event witnessed the participation of esteemed women leaders from the INDIA alliance, who addressed important issues concerning gender equality in the country.
The conference saw the presence and speeches of influential national women leaders, such as former Congress President Sonia Gandhi, General Secretary of the Congress Party Priyanka Gandhi, former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and People’s Democratic Party leader Meghbooba Mufti, and many others. Leshi Singh from the United Janata Dal, Subashini Ali from the Marxist Communist Party, Aniraja from the Indian Communist Party, Rakhi Pitlan from the Aam Aadmi Party, Sushmita Dev from the Trinamool Congress, Dimple Yadav from the Samajwadi Party, and Supriya Sule from the Nationalist Congress Party also shared their insights on the topic.
During his speech at the conference, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin emphasized the need for men to ask for reservation in the state of Tamil Nadu, where over 50% reservation exists in local bodies. He expressed pride in his sister Kanimozhi’s speech in Parliament and called for defeating the BJP to protect the rights of all people.
Kanimozhi, DMK Deputy General Secretary and Member of Parliament, highlighted the achievements of women in Tamil Nadu, including their representation in the police force and the presence of 11 women mayors in the state. She emphasized the importance of entitlements and the Dravidian model in advancing women’s rights and criticized the BJP regime for the mistreatment of women in Manipur.
Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi commended the accomplishments of Indian women, who have overcome societal and cultural obstacles to succeed in various fields. She acknowledged the long road ahead in achieving full equality for women in India.
In her address, Congress National General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi spoke passionately about the Women’s Reservation Act, urging its immediate implementation. She stressed the need to fight for the rights of women and to dismantle societal norms that perpetuate their subjugation.
Supriya Sule, Working President of the Nationalist Congress Party, applauded Tamil Nadu’s commitment to inclusivity and recognized the similarities between Tamil and Marathi languages. She expressed solidarity with the cause of gender equality in line with the principles of Father Periyar.
Subashini Ali, Politburo member of the Communist Party of India, highlighted the intertwined nature of social and gender oppression and economic exploitation. She criticized the BJP government for its failure to uphold the principles of the Indian constitution and expressed the need for a united fight against these regressive forces.
The conference shed light on the challenges faced by women in India and the urgent need for concrete actions to ensure gender equality. It served as a platform for prominent leaders across party lines to advocate for women’s rights and galvanize public support for the cause.
As the winds of change start to blow in favor of gender equality, the conference aimed to inspire and mobilize individuals, organizations, and political parties to work together in creating a more inclusive and equitable society.