Let’s Talk Women: Quota to Safety, Kavitha’s Protest Stirs Up Debate in Telangana Politics

Kavitha, Member of Legislative Council (MLC) in Telangana from Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar demanding introduction of bill for 33% reservation for women in Parliament has managed to unite. Opposition on women’s issues

Kavita ended her day-long fast at 4 pm on Friday. She said: “We have taken signatures from representatives of political parties and organizations in support of the movement and have taken it to the Honorable President of India. Today the issue is not of poetry or state, but of the country. How can you grow if you keep half the population out? How can a bird fly with one wing? Both men and women need equal representation.”

However, after the ‘Women’s Day’ passed, the rival parties lost no time in “exposing” the “hypocrisy of the poem”.

Take a look at who said what:

YSTRP

YSR Telangana Party (YSRTP) president YS Sharmila, who recently completed 1.5 years of padyatra in the state, pointed out that Telangana has the highest number of crimes against women in South India. Speaking to News18, he said: “It is ridiculous. In 2014, only six women from her father-led party became legislators, while in 2018 the number was four. There was not a woman minister in the first government of KCR… it [dharna] Liquor is because of the case… where is the 33% in TRS?”

BJP

Stepping up the front on women-centric issues after Kavitha’s dharna was announced, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) celebrated the ‘Mahila Gosa-BJP Bharosa’ event in Telangana to highlight “atrocities against women”.

During his speech, BJP state vice-president NVSS Prabhakar said: “You know how many atrocities are being committed on women in the state. KCR govt doesn’t care…”

Telangana BJP NGO convenor Meenakshi Girdhari blamed the BRS for the death of Dr D Preethi, a medical student studying at Warangal’s Kakatiya Medical College, saying: “Their own member left the BRS alleging harassment by the party MLA. What is the point of protesting in Delhi when they cannot protect the interests of women in their state?

The BJP has claimed that Dr Preeti’s suicide was a murder and not a suicide. On Friday, the Telangana BJP Mahila Morcha wrote a letter to the National Commission for Women, demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged suicide of Dr. Preeti.

Congress

Congress leader Palavai Sravanti feels that the BRS has also failed to protect the interests of its party leaders. “After the BRS came to power, we have not seen many measures for women safety. Even a woman of height felt insecure in his party. When the BRS formed the government in 2014, there was no woman in the cabinet.”

“Women trafficking has been a burning issue in the state for a long time. We do not know how the Telangana government is addressing this. The Women’s Reservation Bill that Kavita is talking about was brought by the Congress in 2008. It was passed in the Parliament and is still alive.

TDP

T Jyothsana, the Telangana Telugu women president of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), claimed that the indicators for women’s safety and welfare in the state are dismal. Sixth place in atrocities on tribal women. Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) cases have increased. About 50% of government schools do not have toilets. Child marriage is also on the rise.”

“The poem talks about the election promises of the central government, but the election promises made by her party to women in 2014 – universities and banks for women – are yet to be fulfilled. TDP had demanded a high level monitoring committee to look into these issues, but there has been no progress till date. Ironically, Kavita has never met the family of any victim of sexual assault or other crimes in the state.”

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