In a significant address at the inauguration of ‘Utsaah,’ a Kerala Mahila Congress convention in Kochi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi emphasized the need for active promotion of women within the party’s organizational structure. Gandhi set an ambitious target, suggesting that the Congress should aim to have 50 percent of its chief ministers as women within the next 10 years.
Highlighting the absence of a single woman chief minister currently, Gandhi expressed confidence in the numerous women leaders within the Congress who possess the qualities necessary for such leadership roles. He stated, “Today, we don’t have a single woman chief minister. But I know there are many women in the Congress party who have the qualities to be very good chief ministers.”
Taking a swipe at the RSS, Gandhi characterized it as a “purely a male organization” and contrasted it with the Congress’s belief in including women in the power structure. He attributed qualities like patience, longer-term vision, sensitivity, and compassion to women, asserting their superiority in many ways.
Gandhi asserted that the fundamental fight between the RSS and the Congress revolves around the role women should play in Indian politics. He criticized the BJP-led NDA government for delaying the implementation of the Women’s Reservation Bill, despite receiving parliamentary approval. The bill, aimed at reserving one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women, remains on hold.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the delay in implementing the bill, Gandhi remarked, “I have never seen any Bill passed in Parliament where it will be implemented a decade later. The only Bill that the BJP is implementing after 10 years is the one that has to do with women’s power.”
Additionally, Gandhi denounced certain right-wing leaders’ alleged statements blaming a girl’s attire for incidents of rape, terming it an insult to every woman in the country. He highlighted this as a stark difference between the Congress and the RSS.
