High court petitioner Shraddha Amonkar addresses a news conference in the presence of outgoing councillor Bhavana Bhosle and others. Captured by : Vikram Nayak
VASCO
One of the High Court petitioners Shraddha Amonkar on Monday said women Congress workers decided not to celebrate International Women's Day, to protest against Urban Development Minister Milind Naik’s failure to reserve any of the nine wards for women in Mormugao constituency at the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) polls.
Addressing a news conference on Monday, Amonkar said while the Jai Tara Nari Welfare Trust managed by her would annually celebrate International Women’s Day, the women in Mormugao decided not to celebrate Women's Day as it was a black day for women who are protesting against the recent reservations.
"It is shameful and an insult to the women fraternity in Mormugao constituency that besides not reserving wards for women, the Milind Naik’s BJP-backed panel had only men as candidates and not even a single woman was given a chance to represent any ward.”
“While the BJP government claims that women should move forward but at the same time their own cabinet minister is keeping women behind in politics.”
“Despite the injustice to women, the Congress has fielded three women in Mormugao Constituency for the upcoming civic polls," said Amonkar.
Amonkar said she had full faith that the Supreme Court would offer justice to women.
Outgoing councillor Bhavna Bhosle said while women had reached top positions in the country, women were being pulled down politically in Mormugao constituency.
"Naik will soon realise this when women in Mormugao teach him a good lesson in the upcoming civic and assembly polls, because women who stood with him have been deprived of a chance to represent their wards," said Bhosle.
