Daljeet Kaur/Chandigarh, May 28, 2023: Under the invitation of B.K.U. (Ekta-Ugrahan) and Punjab Farm Workers Union, thousands of women marched towards the Governor House today in favour of women wrestlers agitation and against the Modi government’s efforts to implicate Dr. Navsharan in a false case. A furious march was made. On this occasion, through a memorandum sent to the Prime Minister, it was demanded that Birj Bhushan, a BJP MP nominated in two cases on charges of sexual harassment and the former president of the wrestling federation, should be arrested and barricading should be removed around the female wrestlers protesting at Jantar Mantar. The harassment of Dr. Navsharan, a prominent figure of democratic rights and famous intellectual, through ED should be stopped and efforts to frame false cases against Navsharan and other such women activists should be stopped. The arrested pro-people intellectuals and democratic rights activists should be released immediately and a safe environment for women should be guaranteed in all institutions.
Before the march to Governor House, thousands of women participated in a huge rally near Gurdwara Amb Sahib was organised. It was addressed by women farmers’ leaders Harinder Bindu, Kuldeep Kaur Kussa, women farm laborer leaders Paramjit Kaur Salemgarh besides Kamaljit Kaur Barnala, Mandeep Kaur Baran, state president of BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) Joginder Singh Ugrahan, General Secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokri Kalan, State President of Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union Zora Singh Nasrali and General Secretary Lachhman Singh Sevewala. President of Pulse Manch Amolak Singh, Dr. Areet on behalf of the family of Dr. Navsharan, famous theatrist Dr. Sahib Singh & Kewal Dhaliwal, State Leader of Jamhuri Adhikar Sabha Buta Singh mehmoodpur, Dr. Sukhdev Sirsa Pragatisheel Writers Sangh/Central Punjabi Writers Sabha and tarkshil society leader Sumit also gave unity message. The speakers said that in our male-dominated society, even though the women have been victims of oppression, coercion, sexual exploitation and inequality for centuries, but after the BJP under the leadership of Narendra Modi, women are being treated more unfairly, forced adultery and adultery. The cases of excesses are touching the peaks day by day. He said that it is the result of Modi government’s anti-women thinking and culture based on Mannu Simrity that the victims of sexual exploitation are forced to agitate for justice. Instead of giving justice to these famous female wrestlers of the country, the government is protecting the accused Birj Bhushan, due to which the named accused is making defamatory comments against women wrestlers repeatedly.
They said that the Modi government is undermining democracy every day just for the sake of show and imposing an undeclared emergency in the country, that is why pro-people intellectuals and activists of democratic rights are being put in jails. Under this policy, Dr. Navsharan is being harassed on the pretext of investigation through ED and a basis is being prepared to implicate her in a false case under Money Laundering Prevention Act. They warned them to keep their hands off Dr. Navsharan and other women activists and said that if the Modi government does not withdraw, they should be ready to bear the brunt of the joint and massive people struggle.
The gathering passed a resolution condemning the arrest & demanding immediate release of women wrestlers today going towards new Parliament House from Jantar Mantar.
