Report

Mahila Congress Report

East Garo Mahila Congress meeting at Williamnagar, Meghalaya on August 8, 2002

The Delhi PMC, in its ongoing programmes of environment and health awareness, held a free women’s ailments’ camp at Sangtarasho at Paharganj on 28 July, where treatment was given by Dr. Neelam Sahgal. On 7 August an environment awareness camp was held at Sadar Distt., addressed by Dr. Rita B. Joshi AIMC vice-president and Mrs. Motia Garg, DPMC president. On 18 August the DPMC held a free medical camp to commemorate Shri Rajiv Gandhi’s birthday inaugurated by Health Minister Dr. Ashok Walia at Mandavali’s Joshi Colony. CWC member Shri Mukul Wasnik, AICC secretary Ms. Sushila Tiriya and AIMC president Mrs. Chandresh Kumari were amongst those present. A Nukkar Natak was performed on Women and Child–health.

Mrs. Chandresh Kumari led a procession of about 2,000 women for a demonstration against Pramod Mahajan on 16 August for his involvement in the Shivani Bhatnagar murder. CWC members Ms. Ambica Soni, Shri Moti Lal Vora, Shri Oscar Fernandese, Shri Mukul Wasnik, political secretary to the AICC Pres. Shri Ahmad Patel, AICC secretary, Ms. Sushila Tiriya, Mayor Mrs. Jayshree Panwar, DPCC president Shri Subhash Chopra also participated in the demonstration.

The AIMC office-bearers incharge of the States going for Vidhan-Sabha elections in the near future are touring the States extensively. The AIMC Vice-President, incharge of the Northeast Smt. Neeva Konwar, extensively toured Mizoram and Meghalaya. East Garo Mahila Congress organized a meeting on 8 August at Williamnagar and this meeting was also addressed by Mahila Presidents of Dobu, Nengkhra , Rongsak, Songsak, and Williamnagar. A meeting was also organized at the Tura Congress Bhavan.

Mrs. Abha Sinha, incharge of Orissa, toured Orissa from the 4 to the 7 August. Meetings were also held at Bharampur (Bapu Ashram) on the 5th, at Cuttack and Sambalpur and Angul on the 7th. Mrs. Raj Sachdeva, incharge of W.Bengal, toured the State and addressed meetings at Boral, Howrah, Bally, Shibpur, Bankura and Mandirtola and paid homage to Mahila Congress activist (Late) Mrs. Bimala Dey at Howrah Bridge.

The AIMC president Mrs. Chandresh Kumari, attended the Uttaranchal PCC Executive meeting on 21 August felicitating Shri Narayan Dutt Tiwari upon his election to the Vidhan-Sabha, alongwith Shri Motilal Vora and Shri Subodhkant Sahai. The Maharashtra PMC organized a 2-day "Mahila Siddhata Parishad" on the 17 and 18 August.

The Mahila Congress activists warded-off the attacking BJP women trying to forcefully enter our leader Mrs. Sonia Gandhi’s residence with malintentions, on 29 August. Finding the police force not doing its duty of stopping them effectively despite Section-144, the Mahila Congress and AICC office-bearers confronted the hooligans. In the clash that followed several office-bearers of AIMC alongwith Smt. Ambika Soni, general secretary AICC were injured. The Mahila Congress considers this as an act of frustration on the part of BJP against the fast growing popularity of Smt. Sonia Gandhi.

- Dr. Jaya Shukla