Shimla, April 23
The “Jan Aakrosh Mahila Padyatra” organized by the BJP Mahila Morcha at Chaura Maidan, Shimla, witnessed an overwhelming turnout, transforming into a massive show of strength by women from across the state. The rally emerged not merely as a political event but as a decisive assertion of women’s rights, dignity, and participation in governance.
The event was presided over by BJP Mahila Morcha State President Daisy Thakur, in the presence of BJP State President Dr. Rajeev Bindal, State In-charge Shrikant Sharma, Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, and Co-Incharge Sanjay Tandon. The venue echoed with slogans of empowerment, signaling that women are now prepared to lead a decisive movement for their rightful place in governance.
Addressing the gathering, BJP State General Secretary Payal Vaidya launched a sharp attack on the Congress, stating that the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam was a historic step aimed at ensuring 33 per cent reservation for women from Panchayats to Parliament. She said Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened a special session of Parliament to institutionalize women’s participation in decision-making, but the Congress and its allies sabotaged this opportunity for political reasons.
Questioning Priyanka Gandhi’s slogan, she remarked that when the real battle for women’s rights arose, Congress chose to retreat, exposing its hypocrisy. BJP Mahila Morcha President Daisy Thakur termed the fall of the Bill as a “black day in democratic history.” She accused the Congress of consistently treating women as mere vote banks and denying them real empowerment. “This is not just a political issue but an attack on the dignity of millions of women, and the response is now visible on the streets,” she said.
State Vice President Rashmi Dhar Sood stated that Congress, Samajwadi Party, and Trinamool Congress collectively undermined women’s aspirations. She emphasized that those claiming to champion equality had, in reality, denied women their rightful place in governance. “This is not politics alone — it is a question of social justice,” she added. MLA Reena Kashyap accused the state government of misusing administrative machinery to obstruct the rally. She alleged that buses carrying women, particularly from Solan and nearby regions, were deliberately stopped, delayed, and diverted. “This was a calculated attempt to suppress women’s voices, but the massive turnout proves that such tactics have failed,” she said.
BJP State President Dr. Rajeev Bindal stated that by blocking the Women’s Reservation Bill, Congress had “betrayed 700 million women of the country.” He highlighted that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, women have been empowered economically, socially, and educationally over the past decade, and the next logical step was their participation in governance. He further targeted the state government, alleging that its promise of ₹1,500 per month to 2.8 million women remains unfulfilled. “This is not merely a broken promise, but a blatant betrayal of women,” he said.
Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur described the rally as the beginning of a larger political shift. He stated that the anti-women stance of the Congress has now been fully exposed, and women across the state will respond through democratic means. “Women are no longer passive participants — they are now the driving force of political change,” he asserted.
The rally saw participation from thousands of women, youth, and party workers, who collectively raised their voices in support of women’s rights and representation. The gathering sent a clear message that women will no longer step back from claiming their rightful space in decision-making.
In conclusion, BJP leaders stated that this movement marks only the beginning of a larger campaign for dignity, equality, and political empowerment of women. “Empowered women are the foundation of a strong society and a strong nation — and this resolve has now taken the shape of a mass movement,” they said.
