Sonia slams ‘shameful remarks’ on women, to work for gender justice

Pledging that the death of the Delhi gangrape victim will not be in vain, Congress president Sonia Gandhi in her concluding speech at the Chintan Shivir on Sunday called for changes in law to empower women. Sonia also targeted some leaders for their 'shocking statements' on women and said "shameful mindsets that lead to unspeakable atrocities on women and children cannot be tolerated".

"This AICC meeting comes in the backdrop of concern across India on the issue of safety and security of women. The barbaric gangrape of a young woman in the nation's capital has shaken the entire country. People are rightly demanding answers and action. This brave young woman in many ways embodied the spirit of an aspirational India. We will ensure that her death will not have been in vain. She is tragically, a symbol of thousands of women and children, who suffer a similar fate, whose lives are ruined or worse, and who are denied justice," Sonia said. Slamming comments of some leaders on women, she said, "In the last few weeks, some public figures have come out with truly shocking statements reflective of these completely unacceptable attitudes."

Sonia said that gender justice and equality was one of the five topics that were discussed over the past two days in the Chintan Shivir and there was acknowledgement that the UPA-led government has taken many steps to ensure the welfare and well-being of women. "New laws have been enacted. They include an amendment to ensure equal rights for women in inheritance, new laws to protect women from domestic violence and sexual harassment at workplace. Aajeevika, the expansion and strengthening of women's self-help groups is one of our key flagship programmes," she added. Sonia said that she will 'personally continue to press for the passage of the law that would provide for one-third reservation for women in Parliament and state legislatures'.

... contd.

ALSO READ

Pawar to seek special package for state

Railway bribery case: Nephew rose from obscurity, worked behind the scenes

For AMU students, wearing sherwani no issue

Polls today, Cong pins hope on BSY