New Delhi, March 4: Amid the recent harassment incident involving a Union Minister's daughter in Maharashtra, the Congress party has sharply criticized the BJP-led "double engine" governments, labeling them as a "curse for daughters" due to increasing crimes against women across states.
Speaking at a press conference, Alka Lamba, Chief of the Mahila Congress, highlighted troubling crime statistics from BJP-ruled states including Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Haryana, as well as Rajasthan, currently governed by Congress. Lamba asserted that the party would hold these governments accountable on the crucial issue of women's safety.
"The BJP's double-engine governments are proving detrimental to the safety and dignity of daughters in the country," Lamba said, referring specifically to the harassment incident involving the daughter of a Union Minister and her friends at Maharashtra's Sant Muktai Yatra in Kothali village, Jalgaon district, on February 28.
The police have registered an FIR naming seven accused, including former BJP councilor Piyush More, whose association with senior BJP leaders and Maharashtra Chief Minister was highlighted by Lamba. Following the FIR, Jalgaon police arrested three individuals—Kiran Mali, Aniket Bhoyi, and Anuj Patil—and detained a minor in connection with the case. Authorities revealed the accused had misbehaved with several young women and clashed with their bodyguards.
Lamba challenged the Union Minister to take a firm stance, stating, "If the Union Minister herself does not get justice, then she should resign from her post and join the fight alongside many such daughters who continue to seek justice."
Highlighting broader concerns, Lamba cited additional disturbing cases, including a recent gang rape of a 19-year-old woman at knifepoint in Pune, where the accused reportedly filmed the incident without subsequent police action. "Over the past nine years, Gujarat has witnessed approximately 17,000 cases of crimes against daughters, with around 200 cases reported monthly," she noted.
Additionally, she pointed to alarming figures in Rajasthan, where nearly 20,000 cases of harassment against women have been reported in the past six months alone.
As International Women's Day approaches on March 8, the Congress reaffirmed its commitment to fight for justice, emphasizing that governments failing to protect women must be held accountable. "Whether anyone else stands up or not, Congress and Mahila Congress will firmly stand by these daughters," Lamba declared.
The party has vowed to intensify its advocacy for women's safety, making it clear that negligence by authorities will no longer be tolerated.
Speaking at a press conference, Alka Lamba, Chief of the Mahila Congress, highlighted troubling crime statistics from BJP-ruled states including Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Haryana, as well as Rajasthan, currently governed by Congress. Lamba asserted that the party would hold these governments accountable on the crucial issue of women's safety.
"The BJP's double-engine governments are proving detrimental to the safety and dignity of daughters in the country," Lamba said, referring specifically to the harassment incident involving the daughter of a Union Minister and her friends at Maharashtra's Sant Muktai Yatra in Kothali village, Jalgaon district, on February 28.
The police have registered an FIR naming seven accused, including former BJP councilor Piyush More, whose association with senior BJP leaders and Maharashtra Chief Minister was highlighted by Lamba. Following the FIR, Jalgaon police arrested three individuals—Kiran Mali, Aniket Bhoyi, and Anuj Patil—and detained a minor in connection with the case. Authorities revealed the accused had misbehaved with several young women and clashed with their bodyguards.
Lamba challenged the Union Minister to take a firm stance, stating, "If the Union Minister herself does not get justice, then she should resign from her post and join the fight alongside many such daughters who continue to seek justice."
Highlighting broader concerns, Lamba cited additional disturbing cases, including a recent gang rape of a 19-year-old woman at knifepoint in Pune, where the accused reportedly filmed the incident without subsequent police action. "Over the past nine years, Gujarat has witnessed approximately 17,000 cases of crimes against daughters, with around 200 cases reported monthly," she noted.
Additionally, she pointed to alarming figures in Rajasthan, where nearly 20,000 cases of harassment against women have been reported in the past six months alone.
As International Women's Day approaches on March 8, the Congress reaffirmed its commitment to fight for justice, emphasizing that governments failing to protect women must be held accountable. "Whether anyone else stands up or not, Congress and Mahila Congress will firmly stand by these daughters," Lamba declared.
The party has vowed to intensify its advocacy for women's safety, making it clear that negligence by authorities will no longer be tolerated.