Women’s Congress to Gherao CM Residence on September 10
The state president of the Women’s Congress and Rajya Sabha MP, Phulo Devi Netam, addressed a press conference at the State Congress Headquarters, Rajiv Bhavan. She stated that incidents of atrocities and gang rapes against women in the state are increasing day by day, while the police administration remains a mute spectator. Due to this weak law and order situation, women are feeling unsafe. They are frightened and living in fear. In just 9 months of the BJP government, more than 600 cases of rape have come to light, and over 3,000 criminal incidents against women have occurred. Those in power protect the criminals, giving them the courage to continue their acts.
- Today, whether it’s a 4-year-old girl from Bhilai or a 50-year-old woman at Raipur’s New Bus Stand, rape is happening to them. Women of all ages feel unsafe in this state.
- Recently, on September 3rd, a minor girl returning home from the market in Sitapur was gang-raped.
- A 50-year-old woman was gang-raped at Raipur’s New Bus Stand. The report was filed the next day, but the police initially denied the gang rape and only registered a case of rape. Instead of punishing the culprits, the police seem more interested in protecting them.
- From Bastar, Jashpur, Raigarh, Bilaspur, Ambikapur to the capital Raipur, women are terrified by these rape incidents. Women feel unsafe even stepping outside their homes.
- A shocking incident occurred on July 5th at DPS School in Bhilai, where a 4-year-old girl was sexually assaulted. Without registering an FIR, the SP dismissed the incident, despite provisions under the POCSO Act that require an FIR to be filed first, followed by an investigation. In the case of the Bhilai girl, two doctors’ reports confirmed injuries to her private parts and suspected serious molestation. Despite this, the SP continued to deny the case. It wasn’t until September 4th, nearly two months later, after pressure from Congress, that an FIR was finally registered.
- Does the government need protests for every incident before conducting proper investigations and taking action for justice for women?
- In Pusaur, Raigarh, a tribal woman was raped by 14 men. The police delayed registering the report until media pressure forced them to do so.
- A minor girl in Jashpur was gang-raped.
- Incidents of rape have occurred in Kondagaon, where a minor was raped, in Narayanpur’s government school where female students were sexually exploited, in Rajim where a 2-year-old girl was raped, in Bhilai where minors and a 5-year-old girl were raped, and in Raigarh where a mute and deaf woman was raped. These incidents continue in Jashpur, Keshkal, Pakhanjur, Durg, Raipur, Raigarh, Sakti, and Ambikapur.
- Those giving the hollow slogan of “Save the Daughter, Educate the Daughter” are now protecting the criminals.
- Women who gather the courage to file an FIR at the police station are harassed instead of being supported, leading some victims to commit suicide.
- The rising cases of rape in the state have become a matter of grave concern. Today, women working in the fields, traveling by bus, staying at home, in hospitals, or girls going to school or college – no one feels safe.
- The police and administration are more focused on protecting the accused, while the victims have to wander from place to place seeking justice.
- It is shameful that those who react to incidents in Bengal remain silent when a 4-year-old girl is brutalized in Chhattisgarh.
- The Congress has decided that we will fight for the protection and justice of our sisters and daughters through protests and movements.
- For women’s rights and safety, the Women’s Congress will fight from the streets to the legislature, and on September 10th, we will gherao the Chief Minister’s residence.
The continuous incidents of rape across the state are deeply saddening. I express my condolences to the victims’ families. The Congress party stands with the affected families and will continue to raise its voice for their justice.
