As we inch closer to the 2024 general elections, the Opposition is doing everything but what is expected of a responsible Opposition in a democratic country like ours. What pains me, not as a person connected with the political discourse but as a woman, a daughter, a wife, and a mother, is the anti-women stance taken by various political leaders. Among the biggest controversies, the remarks of Congress scion Rahul Gandhi are among the biggest threats to our societal and cultural institutions’ pro-women outlook.
Rahul Gandhi openly declared that he and his party are fighting against “Shakti.” Of course, damage control measures have been taken to make it look like an error in translation, which is neither new nor surprising. The BJP strongly condemned such irresponsible and divisive statements. Having said that, these statements reveal the Opposition’s desperation and lack of a constructive agenda for women’s empowerment. However, the BJP’s commitment to women’s empowerment goes beyond mere decorative words.
Under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, the Bharatiya Janata Party has consistently worked towards creating an enabling environment for women to thrive and lead across various walks of life. Be it Modi’s visionary ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ campaign to promote girl child education or ensuring that women entrepreneurs have equal opportunity to receive financial support through schemes like MUDRA and Stand Up India, the BJP has delivered on fronts that the Opposition never even thought of.
This is due to the fact that the BJP’s efforts to empower women under the leadership of Modi have been deeply rooted in India’s rich cultural heritage, which has always celebrated the power and potential of women. In fact, it is the only party that sincerely provides its female candidates with the necessary resources and training to contest elections, ensuring their safety and security during campaigns. The BJP also believes in the importance of building a strong pipeline of women leaders at the very grassroots level so that they can eventually take on larger leadership roles at the state and national levels. I’ve myself witnessed its dedication to creating a conducive environment for them to raise their voices and concerns in legislative bodies and beyond.
From giving tickets to a record number of women candidates in elections to appointing women in key leadership positions within the party and government, the BJP has consistently walked the talk on women’s empowerment. The party has given India its first woman defence minister and first woman finance minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, and India’s first woman external affairs minister, Sushma Swaraj, who was also the first female spokeswoman of a national political party, among many others.
The Women’s Reservation Bill, which guarantees 33 per cent of seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women, is the manifestation of this ethos. The result? Be it the Central or state governments, BJP-led administrations have successfully implemented several flagship schemes and programmes aimed at promoting women’s education, health, and economic empowerment.
The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana has brought millions of unbanked Indian women into the formal financial system, while the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana has provided free LPG connections to millions of women from poor households. The party has also taken strong action to protect the rights and safety of women, strengthening laws against sexual violence and harassment, including women choosing live-in relationships. The party has also been at the forefront of challenging the deep-rooted patriarchal mindsets and social norms that have historically hindered women’s progress. This is reflected in the abolishment of Triple Talaq, which has been otherwise conveniently ignored by every political party for the sake of the vote bank.
Congress, on the other hand, seems to be living in the past, where its leaders and workers would get away with their indecent modus operandi. The recent derogatory remarks made by a Congress spokesperson and candidate, Supriya Shrinate, against one of the BJP’s esteemed members, Kangana Ranaut, are a shocking reminder of the challenges that women in public life continue to face. I stand in solidarity with Kangana and all the brave women who refuse to be silenced or intimidated by such cowardly attacks. The BJP has time and again rejected this politics of cynicism and deceit, taking a stand against such ghastly rhetoric irrespective of party lines.
We must do away with the divisive politics of putting women down, as it undermines our democratic institutions, weakens our economy, and compromises our national spirit. As we look forward to a new era of development, women’s participation must go beyond the political or social imperative. The BJP is committed to ensuring that women are equal partners and beneficiaries of this transformation under PM Modi’s able leadership.
Ritu Rathi is the founder of an NGO, Ek Soch, and the VP of the women wing of BJP Surat city. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18’s views.
Comments
0 comment