Gehlot: Harassment of women will not be tolerated, laws in place
JAIPUR: Chief minister Ashok Gehlot said on Friday that torture and harassment of women will not be tolerated, pointing out that the Rajasthan government had taken strict measures to prevent such incidents.
Gehlot said the state government had set up a special unit for investigation of heinous crimes to ensure timely justice to victims.
Speaking at the 21st national convention of the National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) at Ravindra Manch in Jaipur, the CM said the state was committed towards women empowerment, emphasising that resolutions to reserve one-third seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies had been passed in the Rajasthan Assembly.
Gehlot said his government had made strict laws against mob lynching and honour killing. The laws are pending approval from the Central government, he
ASHOK GEHLOT, Chief minister
added.
The CM said for development of society, women need to be made empowered and self-dependent. “It is necessary that women quit the practice of veil. Men should come forward to help end this practice,” he said, adding that former PM Indira Gandhi was an example of women empowerment. Gehlot said former PM Rajiv Gandhi brought the 73rd and 74th amendments to the Constitution to ensure political representation to women.
Advocating freedom of speech and expression, the CM said disagreement was not sedition. “The country needs the thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi more today. The country should be run on the spirit of the Constitution. Every person should get social and economic justice,” he said.
Gehlot said the youth was being misled by social media, which was not a step towards a healthy democracy.
National secretary of the Communist Party of India Atul Kumar Anjan said common culture and common heritage was the basis of our country. “Gandhi was alive in our thoughts yesterday, and continues to be alive today. India is a secular country which must progress on the principles of the Constitution and Gandhi,” he said.
NFIW president Aruna Roy, national general secretary Annie Raja, national executive member Revti, Bhanwari Devi and Nisha Sidhu also addressed the convention. A large number of federation office-bearers and social activists were present on the occasion.
Country needs the thoughts of Gandhiji more today. The country should be run on the spirit of the Constitution. Every person should get social and economic justice.