Kumar Bahukhandi
Rajya Sabha MP Laxmi Verma-File Photo
IN Short
- Rajya Sabha MP Verma Takes a jibe on Congress’s ‘I Am a Girl, I Can Fight’ Slogan Is Mere Electoral Hypocrisy
- Neglect of Women in Bilaspur District’s Block Committees Exposes Congress’s Political Hypocrisy’
Raipur: Rajya Sabha MP Laxmi Verma has strongly criticised the Congress leadership while expressing a sharp reaction to the formation of the new executive committees for the Block Congress Committees in Bilaspur district.
Laxmi Verma stated that a party unable to provide women with representation within its own organisational structure—in accordance with its own established norms—can hardly be expected to ensure women’s participation in the politics of the state and the nation.
Rajya Sabha MP Laxmi Verma remarked that the list of the 11 Block Congress Committees in Bilaspur district serve as proof of Congress’s double standards.
The Congress had publicly claimed that it would ensure 30 percent representation for women within the organisation; however, the reality is that women have been confined to holding merely 13 percent of the posts.
The fact that only 43 women found a place in a list comprising 341 office-bearers demonstrates the vast disparity between Congress’s rhetoric and its actions! Taking a jibe at the party, Verma noted that Congress’s national leaders—Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi—deliver grand speeches on women’s empowerment from public platforms and coin catchy slogans such as ‘I Am a Girl, I Can Fight’ (Ladki Hoon, Lad Sakti Hoon); yet, when it comes to assigning responsibilities within the organisation, women are pushed to the sidelines.
The people of the state are watching closely to see how sincere a party—which is unable to provide even 30 percent reservation for women within its own organisational framework—will truly be regarding the 33 percent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.
Rajya Sabha MP Verma further noted that it is even more unfortunate that the women who did find a place on the list have been appointed merely as executive members; by keeping women away from positions involving influential and decision-making roles, the Congress has proven that it views women solely as a ‘vote bank’ and has absolutely no interest in providing them with opportunities for leadership.
Laxmi Verma asserted that the mothers and sisters of Chhattisgarh are witnessing this anti-women attitude of the Congress party. The Congress party—which claims credit for empowering women within the Panchayati Raj system—is today itself humiliating women within its own organisation.
In the times to come, the women of the state will deliver a resounding response to this political hypocrisy and deceit of the Congress, Laxmi Verma added.
