Bantwal: Alleging that the BJP-led central government has failed to uphold the interests of women, members of the Mahila Congress staged a protest at B.C. Road in Bantwal on Friday. The demonstration was organised jointly by the Dakshina Kannada District Mahila Congress Committee, Bantwal Block Mahila Congress, and Panemangaluru Block Mahila Congress.
The protest centred around the alleged delay in implementing the Women’s Reservation Bill, 2023, with participants accusing the Centre of betraying women across the country. Several leaders addressed the gathering, calling for immediate action and raising concerns about the intent behind the bill.
Leaders question delay in implementation
Speaking at the protest, former minister B Ramanath Rai criticised the central government, stating that the bill should have been implemented earlier. He alleged that the current version of the legislation was introduced with “malicious intent” and has failed to deliver on its promises.
Rai further highlighted the contributions made by the Congress party towards the development and empowerment of women, asserting that policies introduced during its tenure had significantly improved women’s participation in governance and social sectors.
Demand for immediate action
Participants at the protest raised slogans and demanded that the Women’s Reservation Bill, 2023, be implemented without further delay. They argued that increasing women’s representation in legislative bodies is essential for inclusive governance and equitable development.
The speakers emphasised that despite repeated assurances, the bill has not been effectively operationalised, leaving women underrepresented in decision-making roles. They urged the government to prioritise the issue and take concrete steps to ensure its enforcement.
Presence of senior leaders and members
Legislative Council member Ivan D’Souza was among the prominent leaders present at the protest. Heads of various corporations, including Mamata Gatti, Lavanya Ballal, and Shalet Pinto, also attended the event.
Other key leaders who participated included Usha Anchan, Aida Suresh, Jayanthi Poojary, Amita Bhandary, Dhanalakshmi C Bangera, Jesinta D’Souza, Shabana Kavalkatte, Asma Hasainar, Sarika Poojary, Manjula Kushal Peraje, R Padmaraj, Baby Kunder, Chandraprakash Shetty, M S Mohammad, Balakrishna Anchan, Zeenath Beltangadi, Chandrashekhar Bhandary, A B Abdullah Koltadu, Sudarshan Jain, P B Varghese, Mohan Shetty, Subhashchandra Shetty, Shobha Shetty, Siraj Madak, Siddiq Saravu, Mohammad Nandavar, and Sudeep Kumar Shetty.
Their participation underscored the collective demand from party workers and leaders at various levels for greater representation of women in legislative institutions.
Conclusion
The protest at Bantwal reflects growing political pressure on the central government to expedite the implementation of the Women’s Reservation Bill, 2023. While differing political viewpoints continue to shape the discourse, the demand for increased representation of women in governance remains a key issue across party lines. Protesters reiterated their commitment to continue raising the matter until concrete action is taken.