The Save India National Convention against Assault on Women’s Citizenship Rights noted with concern that the right wing forces whose regressive politics was resulting in the growing atmosphere of intolerance and increasing violence against women. The protection accorded to these people by those in power has resulted in an assault on women’s rights to food, work, health, dignity and security. Women are being targeted and young women in particular, have to bear the brunt of moral policing, honour crimes and sexual violence. This is being compounded by attacks by the Sangh Parivar on Muslims, Dalits and Christians, causing distress and devastation to the women in these communities in particular. All democratic and progressive values are being attacked and the gains won by the women’s movement are sought to be reversed. AIDWA’s convention today focused on these issues and resolved to mobilize women and right thinking citizens to campaign for democratic action to resist this attack and change this regime of terror and violence.
The Convention was a platform where a section of those who have suffered from and resisted this onslaught on their rights, raised their voice on the behalf of all such women. Those who shared their experiences included Saira, mother of Junaid Khan, Shaista, daughter of Akhlaq Khan, Azra and Sumeet who have been persecuted for inter-religious marriage, Anita Minz, a Christian Adivasi from Jharkhand, whose husband was killed by Hindutva forces, Sompalli, the Dalit victim from Shabbirpur, Salma, a victim of toilet vigilantism from UP, Gudiya, sister of Santoshi’s who died because she was denied food since she did not have Aadhaar card, Heena Vanga from Maharashtra, spoke about deprivation from MNREGA wages, Kaushalya, deprived of widow pension, JNU student Sharbani spoke on the dilution of the sexual harassment cell at JNU, Sonia, a victim of child marraige and Gurmehar Kaur, daughter of a Kargil martyr narrated how she was trolled because she spoke up against war and for peace.
The chief guest Brinda Karat, AIDWA Patron and one of the foremost leaders of the women’s movement addressed the Convention and highlighted the unconstitutional actions of the current BJP-led government and described the ways in which the secular fabric of the country was being attacked. She focused on the impact on women and saluted the courage of all the women who have come here after facing many difficulties and problems. She said that the women of the country have to unite and fight together against this regressive and divisive politics. The resolution of the convention was placed by the AIDWA General Secretary Mariam Dhawale. Subhashini Ali, Durga Swami, and Neena Sharma AIDWA leaders conducted the different sessions. Kirti Singh, advocate, Supreme Court, addressed the convention on the dilution of laws crucial for the establishment of the democratic rights of the women. The convention was presided over by AIDWA President Malini Bhattacharya.
The Convention issued a call for:-
- Signature Campaign against dilution of Sec 498A of IPC.
- Observance of Savitribai Phule birth anniversary on 3 January, 2018 as a day of protest against regressive ideology.
- Observance of 30 January, 2018 as a Communal Harmony Day.
- Building struggles to protect our rights to food and work.
