BJP did nothing for womenfolk except providing mere lip service: Rattan Lal Gupta

Says NC strongly committed to empowerment of women

UDHAMPUR, February 28: Rattan Lal Gupta, Provincial President Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) has reiterated that National Conference stands strongly committed to empowerment of women and this stands proved by the measures taken by the NC Govt in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. 

He expressed this in his address at a day-long Women Convention of the party held here today. The one day convention was organised by Sunil Verma, District President JKNC Udhampur and the meeting was presided over by Sunita Mehra, District President JKNC Women Wing District Udhampur. 

Rattan Lal Gupta was the Chief Guest on the occasion while Abdul Ghani Malik senior NC leader and former Minister was the Guest of Honour.

At the very outset the district president Sunil Verma and Sunita Mehra apprised the senior NC functionaries about the problems being faced by the people in general and women folk in particular.

Rattan Lal Gupta said that keeping up its commitment to women’s empowerment National Conference supported the Women Reservation Bill in the Parliament. He said that the National Conference has always provided a platform to women to grow politically, economically and socially. He said that it was during Dr. Farooq Abdullah’s chief minister tenure that his Govt has reserved 50 per cent medical seats in medical colleges for the daughters of J&K.

The senior NC leader asserted that the party is committed to ensure equality of women at all levels be it political, educational, economic, technological or social empowerment and it will continue to raise issues of discrimination and prejudice against womenfolk of Jammu and Kashmir. He accused the incumbent BJP Govt at the Centre and the Union Territory Administration of doing nothing for womenfolk except providing mere lip service due to which the women in J&K have been at the receiving end during the present regime.

Pitching strongly for bigger role to women in shaping destiny of the society,  former Minister and Zonal President Udhampur Reasi, Abdul Ghani Malik said that their presence in the democratic institutions could serve as the best catalyst of change for the women of this Union Territory.

Senior NC leader and former MLA, Bimla Luthra, in her address, strongly condemned the incumbent Govt for its failure on all fronts. She said that benefits of Government schemes were not reaching the deserving poor womenfolk due to corruption and nepotism prevalent at all levels and the Govt is wholly and solely responsible for this sordid state of affairs in the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory.

Senior NC leader Pradeep Bali and Youth Leader Akash Verma urged the people of Jammu and Kashmir to support the National Conference leadership in the upcoming polls, stating that it is time to strengthen the hands of Dr Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah to form a government that is people-centric and considerate towards the problems of the common man.

Member DDC Dansal Mrs Shamima Begum and Vijay Lakhshmi Datta Sr. leader also spoke in the convention and stressed the rural women folk to work unitedly for the upliftment of women folk in rural areas.

Among those who were present in the meeting include:- Savitri Devi District President Women Wing SC Cell, Ch. Abdul Rashid District Secretary Udhampur, Gurmeet Singh Josh District Vice President Udhampur, Farooq Khatana District Vice President Udhampur, Om Prakash Block President City Udhampur, Bishan Dass Sharma Block President Pancheri, Amarnath Block President Jib Thathi, Jagdish Singh Block President Ghordi, Bishan Sharma Block President Udhampur, Dr. Ramesh Block President OBC Cell, Sham Lal Sharma Block Secretary, Shakti Devi, Sajad Ahmed District President YNC Udhampur, Sudesh Kumar, Ravi Bhaderwaj and others.