No woman led BJP or RSS: Congress slams 'preconceived & parochial' mentalities

Ahmedabad: The Congress party on Wednesday attacked the BJP and RSS for not having a woman chief since their inception, saying their "preconceived and parochial" mindset about women's "decision-making abilities", among other reasons, was responsible for barring women from assuming leadership roles.

In its 'Nyay Path' resolution adopted at the AICC Session here, the party also stated that the Women's Reservation Bill was passed by Parliament in September, but the BJP government had not implemented it, despite Congress strongly urging for its immediate enforcement, with a quota for Dalit, Adivasi, and OBC women.

In his presidential address, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said the Narendra Modi government was "sleeping" on the Bill.

“The BJP Chief Ministers, central ministers, and their leaders are habitual offenders in making degrading, vulgar, and regressive remarks about women's clothing, behaviour, character, education, food habits, and decision-making abilities,” the resolution said.

"This preconceived and parochial mindset is why not a single woman has become BJP's national president in the last 45 years since its inception, nor has any woman been permitted entry as the head of the RSS or as its office bearer," it added.

Congress cited Annie Besant, Sarojini Naidu, Nellie Sengupta, Indira Gandhi, and Sonia Gandhi, who became party president, and said it was a testament to its "enduring" commitment to women's empowerment.

It claimed that India's journey of women's empowerment began with the Congress ensuring equal rights for women as a fundamental right enshrined in the Constitution. The party also commended the "farsighted thinking" of then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in providing a 33 per cent quota for women in local bodies.

The resolution also attacked the Narendra Modi government over the "alarming surge" in crimes against women, ranging from atrocities, exploitation, abuse, and violence.

"The soul of Bharat Mata suffered a thousand cuts as India's daughters and its champion women wrestlers were dragged through the streets of Delhi. In violence-torn Manipur, women were publicly stripped and paraded naked. From Hathras to Unnao, the nation bears thousands of such scars on its conscience," it said.

The resolution stated that Congress firmly believes that the country can only progress when its women, who constitute half of the population, are given their full rights, along with equal dignity and full opportunity in nation-building.

It also accused the government of "deliberately weakening" the MGNREGA and labour-friendly laws. It claimed that MGNREGA wages have stagnated, and the Aadhaar-based payment system has denied millions of families their rights to work and wages.

Congress also stated that it is an "ardent champion" of workers on gig platforms and in the unorganised sector, while underlining the need for legislation to protect their rights.