Fight against fascist forces: NFIW

Visakhapatnam: The 20th Congress of National Federation of Indian Women began here on Wednesday with the leaders calling the people to fight against the fascist forces that have been destroying the country in all spheres. The leaders said it was also time to fight against the Communal and Hindutva forces eroding the secular fabric of the country. International, national and regional leaders were present at the public meeting which was held at Gurajada Kalaskhetram.

Federation general secretary Ani Raja said that due to the new policies being pursued by the NDA government, economic inequalities have increased resulting in attacks on the poor, particularly women and children. Violence against women has increased in different forms and the laws to protect the women were being diluted. She said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that his party would bring down the prices of essential commodities within the first 100 days after assuming power, but after two years in power, he could not bring down the price of a single commodity.

“Now puppet in the hands of corporate entities and huge investors, the Prime Minister is initiating all the economic reforms in their favour,” she alleged. The BJP also announced several times before the elections that it would bring the women reservation in the legislative bodies but after winning the elections, it has completely ignored the issue, Ani Raja pointed out. The Prime Minister who could bring in ordinances for land acquisition and amendment to labour laws, was passing the buck on the opposition parties regarding the women reservation bill, she said.

“If BJP is determined, it will not take much time to pass the reservation bill,” she observed. Alleging that the BJP was also determined to establish a Hidu Rashtra at the Centre, she said in the process, the party became a tool in the hands of RSS and other communal forces in the country. The fascist and communal overtones were being felt in all the sectors including the judiciary, she said. As a result, the courts have been giving adverse judgments against the women in a number of States in the country.

She further said the BJP has no respect for Constitutional rights and was going against the concept of reservations for the oppressed classes. “Hyderabad-based Rohith’s death is the result of such attitude of the government being run by communal and fascists forces,’’ the senior federation leader said. The NFIW Congress is being attended by representatives from 27 States and 12 countries and they would deliberate on the future course of action to be taken by them, she said.

Working president of Federation Gargi Chakravarthy presided over the meeting. Secretary BV Vijayalakshmi, vice-president Prameela Lambu, Smita Pansare, Akkineni Vanaja and AP leaders Jayalakshmi, Durgabhavani and A Vimala spoke on the occasion. Earlier, a huge rally was taken out from R TC Complex to the meeting venue. Members of AIDWA expressed their solidarity with the Federation by welcoming them with banners.