BrindaNew Delhi, Dec 8 (PTI) CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat todayclaimed there was a growing atmosphere of intolerance andviolence against women in the country.
Speaking at a convention organised by the All IndiaDemocratic Women's Association (AIADWA) on the issue ofassault on women's citizenship rights, she also alleged thatthat the "promotion of regressive and reactionary ideologiesby those in power has resulted in assault on women'scitizenship rights".
"The basic issue is about women citizenship rights. Ourcitizenship doesn't flow from any religious authority. Itflows from the Constitution. And today they are trying toreplace the Constitution of India by Hindutva," Karat claimed.
Women victims of moral policing, honour crimes, sexualviolence and "attacks by the Sangh Parivar" for their casteand religion narrated their plight in the convention.
"Was my son Junaid not an Indian? Was his blood differentin colour than any Hindu," asked Saira Begum, whose son Junaidwas stabbed to death on a train near Ballabhgarh in Haryana inJune.
"It was a conspiracy. They had planned before killing myfather. Now the people who killed my father have been rewardedwith jobs," said Shaista, the youngest daughter of MohammadAkhlaq who was brutally assaulted by a mob in Dadri's Bishadavillage on September 28 last year over rumours of cowslaughter. Later Akhlaq had succumbed to his injuries.
Azra Parveen and Sumit Chauhan, a young couple who had aninter-religion marriage said love jihad and honour killingsshould be stopped by the government.
"First they try to scare us by love jihad. When theycan't, they kill in the name of honour crimes. It shows thatthey are insecure and through honour killing they wants tosend a message to others," Azra said. PTI CSNZMN.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.