Thousands of women from across the country marched to Parliament Street on Tuesday, under the banner of the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) to protest against the “increasing violence, fear, unemployment and hunger” in the nation.
Organisers said women from 23 States had made their way to Delhi. Braving heavy rain, the protesters attended the gathering.
Speakers at the protest
Speaking at the protest, CPI(M) member Brinda Karat, who led the march, attacked the BJP government over the rise in incidents of violence against women and “impunity extended to criminals”.
Other speakers included Kathua rape case advocate Deepika Rajawat, who spoke about the professional abuse and political consequences she had to face for taking up the case.
Petitioner in the Unnao rape case Mahesh Singh Makkhi, the mother-in-law of a victim in a recent Haryana honour killing case and AIDWA members from Tripura, West Bengal and Maharashtra were present at the rally.
‘Duty to raise our voices’
AIDWA central committee member and JNU Professor Archana Prasad said, “With the recent attacks on NGOs, there is a lot of fear today. But we as an organisation with a large presence feel it is our duty to raise our voices. We will continue to do so until the government changes.”
A press release by AIDWA stated that the gathering was organised to draw the country’s attention to the unprecedented rise in communal and other forms of violence against women, and the denial of decent work and right to food under the Modi regime.
A draft resolution circulated at the protest stated, “We refuse to be silenced by the ‘culture of fear’ being spread by the BJP/RSS and its hate brigades. With banners and flags of AIDWA in our hands, we march to a future where we can claim the equality and basic rights enshrined in the Constitution.”