DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday accused the opposition of committing a “grave injustice” against women by allegedly attempting to block the Nari Shakti Vandan Act, while addressing a massive ‘Mahila Jan Aakrosh Rally’ in Dehradun.
"By conspiring to block the Nari Shakti Vandan Act, the opposition has committed a grave injustice against half the country’s population and sought to deprive women of their fundamental rights," Dhami declared.
The Chief Minister’s remarks set the tone for the rally, which saw thousands gather at Parade Ground to advocate gender equity.
The demonstration, marked by slogans of women’s empowerment, evolved into a large protest march from Parade Ground to the Clock Tower.
At the heart of the rally was a direct confrontation with the opposition’s stance on legislative milestones.
Dhami emphasised that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has pushed to secure women’s rightful place in the democratic system, obstructionist tactics from rivals remain a persistent hurdle.
"Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, we are building a 'New India' where women act as the foundational pillars of progress," the Chief Minister said.
He cited central government initiatives such as 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao', the 'Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana', and the abolition of Triple Talaq as evidence of the BJP’s commitment to women’s upliftment.
Dhami also highlighted the elevation of women to key leadership roles, including the appointment of Droupadi Murmu as President and Nirmala Sitharaman as the country’s first full-time Finance Minister.
Closer to home, he pointed to Uttarakhand’s implementation of 30 per cent horizontal reservation for women in government jobs and the adoption of the Uniform Civil Code as measures aimed at ensuring safety and equality.
Shifting focus to grassroots economic development, the Chief Minister highlighted the success of the 'Lakhpati Didi' scheme.
According to official figures cited by him, more than 2.65 lakh women across Uttarakhand have achieved financial independence through self-help groups and the Rural Livelihood Mission, marking a significant step towards the state’s economic empowerment goals.