times news networkLucknow: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said that opposition parties, especially the Congress and Samajwadi Party, missed a historic opportunity given to them by PM Narendra Modi to shed their anti-women image.The opposition obstructed the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament and exposed its undemocratic and anti-women character, the CM said while addressing a massive gathering of party cadre and women supporters outside the Vidhan Bhawan in Lucknow.“PM Narendra Modi gave these parties a historic opportunity to amend their thinking and change their image but once again they have shown their anti-women character,” he said.Earlier the CM led a massive ‘Jan Aakrosh Mahila Padyatra’ from his 5 Kalidas Marg residence to Vidhan Bhawan to protest against the opposition’s obstruction of the bill.Yogi was accompanied by UP BJP chief Pankaj Chaudhary, deputy CMs Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, BJP allies, ministers, office bearers of various BJP units. The padyatra began around 10am where hundreds of women accompanying the CM carried placards against Opposition parties and shouted slogans against Congress and SP.Yogi said the bill would ensure 33% reservation for women in Legislative Assemblies and the Lok Sabha, and the PM and Union home minister had assured that it would be implemented by 2029. He said that the participation of thousands of women in padyatra despite the massive heat, reflected widespread public support for the policies of the PM and deep anger for the Opposition parties for opposing the amendment to the Act.PM has said that there are only four castes – women, youth, poor and farmers – and all govt schemes are aimed at their welfare, Yogi said. He listed out schemes like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana, Swachh Bharat Mission, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and Ayushman Bharat Yojana, saying that these had brought positive changes in the lives of women. In addition to this, the provision for toilets under Swachh Bharat Mission and gas cylinders under the Ujjwala Yojna was an effort by the BJP Government to protect the dignity of women, the CM said.“The ‘aadhee abadee’ (women folk) is staging protests on the streets across the country against the Congress and its allies,” he said, adding that the march symbolises the resentment among women against the attitude of the Congress, SP, TMC and the DMK.Detailing more central and state govt schemes, Yogi said the double-engine govt was working towards enabling families to become self-reliant through initiatives like PM SVANidhi Yojna and Gharouni distribution.“The double-engine govt in the state is fully committed to ensuring women’s safety, dignity and self-reliance. Schemes such as Mukhyamantri Kanya Sumangala Yojana, Mukhyamantri Samuhik Vivah Yojana, Mukhyamantri Awas Yojana and other youth-related initiatives are proving to be effective instruments in this direction. However, Opposition parties are opposing these at every level due to their divisive, anti-women mindset,” he said.Yogi said while the ‘aakrosh padyatra’ has been formally concluded here, it must be carried forward as a campaign in every district, every division, and at every booth level.
