The issue of women security would figure prominently in the Congress’ two-day “chintan shivir” being held in Jaipur in January, with the party smelling that the opposition would exploit this against the Congress in the coming Assembly election in nine states.
Women’ security is not confined to Delhi but becoming a national issue against the backdrop of a recent incident of gang rape in the national capital. This has agitated youths and the agitation could spread in other states as well since women, girls have been feeling unsafe in big and growing cities.Growing urbanisation, consumerism, economic reforms have already made women a commercial product.
Next year will see the Assembly elections in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland.
Women’s security was one of the main issues of the Congress when it was out of power during 1977 to 80, especially when Indira Gandhi had floated the Congress(I). That time the Congress(I) leaders used to ask even “mangalsutra” of women was not secure in the country.
Though the agenda of the Congress’ brain stroming session to be held on January 18 and 19 is being finalised,it is going to be political. In fact, it would set the agenda for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
Around 300 select delegates,especially those below 45 years would deliberate on the `current situation ‘in the country in the presence of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and few Union ministers. Its conclusions would be placed before the AICC meeting to be held there on Jaunary 20.
According to the party insiders,the Congress cannot win the next general election merely on the Centre’s welfare programmes unless it addresses the issues of youths and women. Partyless, leaderless agitations may not sustain long but would damage the government of the day, they viewed.
If the cap on the LPG cylinders has antagonised women facing inflation, their security issue has already become a national issue questioing the role of police, sensitivity of administration cutting across the caste, region and religion. Mrs Sonia Gandhi is worried about these developments and spoke to PM.