All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) National General Secretary Kaninika Ghosh called upon women to organise struggles to protect their rights and freedoms, stressing that the fight for women's rights must transcend caste and religious divisions.

She was speaking at a public meeting held at the M B Vignana Kendram in Vijayawada on September 12, as part of the three-day National Executive Committee meeting of the AIDWA. A rally planned as part of the programme was postponed due to heavy rain, following which the public meeting was shifted from the open ground to the indoor hall.

Kaninika Ghosh expressed concern over the growing problems faced by women and the rise in violence against them. She said women, Dalits and Adivasis were facing an increasingly hostile social environment and that social justice and constitutional rights were being eroded under the present "Manuwadi" government.

She demanded 33% reservation for women in legislative bodies and expressed concern over the severe financial burden on women caused by the steep rise in prices of essential commodities.

She said the Narendra Modi-led Union government had adopted the slogan "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas" but its policies were not benefitting poor and working people or women. Instead, she said, the policies were serving corporate interests, with industrialists such as Adani and Ambani emerging as major beneficiaries.

She said ordinary people seeking loans from banks were made to run from pillar to post and subjected to penalties and charges when they defaulted, while thousands of crores of rupees in loans had been waived for Subhash Chandra, head of the Zee Group.

SREEMATHI CRITICISES MODI GOVERNMENT

AIDWA National President P K Sreemathi demanded the unconditional passage of the Women's Reservation Bill and called for the immediate implementation of 33% reservation without attaching conditions to it. She criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for attempting to deny women their rightful representation and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had "capitulated" to US President Donald Trump.

Sreemathi said the meeting discussed the situation in Palestine, the US threat of war against Iran and continuing conflicts in West Asia. She highlighted their impact on petrol and diesel prices and said the Prime Minister lacked the courage to question Trump or firmly assert India's national interests.

She said the livelihoods of ordinary people were under severe pressure, pointing to cuts in healthcare allocations and reductions in public welfare programmes. These measures, she said, were contributing to growing discontent among the people.

Sreemathi also referred to China's alternative policies and the continuing struggle of the Cuban people despite the hardships caused by the long-standing US blockade.

She said cooking gas and essential commodity prices had risen sharply in India and expressed solidarity with people across the world fighting for peace and against imperialism and war.

Speaking about the activities of the AIDWA state unit, she appreciated its efforts to address issues not merely as women's concerns but as problems affecting society as a whole. She congratulated the state committee on behalf of the National Executive Committee.

ANDHRA PRADESH GOVERNMENT CRITICISED

Speakers criticised the Andhra Pradesh government for failing to implement promises made to women, including monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,500 and interest-free loans of up to Rs 10 lakh. They called upon women to organise struggles for the implementation of these promises.

Senior AIDWA leader Punyavati said the organisation had been continuously fighting against inequality, discrimination and violence against women.

State President Sridevi criticised the government over the circulation of ganja and alcohol in the state and expressed concern that increasing substance addiction among youth was posing a serious threat to the safety of women and girls. She demanded stringent action against those involved in the sale of ganja and other drugs.

National leader D. Ramadevi, V. Savitri and other leaders participated in the meeting.

During the public meeting, AIDWA national leader Subhashini Ali's book, Social Justice—Struggles for Reforms, was released by Kaninika Ghosh.

SOLIDARITY WITH CUBA

The Central Executive Committee meeting expressed solidarity with the people of Cuba, who, the speakers said, were facing severe hardships as a result of measures imposed by the United States.

They recalled Cuba's achievements in healthcare and said the sector was now facing a serious crisis. According to the speakers, US sanctions had contributed to shortages of medicines, inadequate hospital facilities and a lack of modern medical equipment and machinery. They said these difficulties had contributed to increased mortality, including among pregnant women and new mothers. The meeting also referred to Cuba's power crisis, declining tourism and disruptions to imports and exports and expressed solidarity with the Cuban people in their struggle against the US blockade.

SEMINAR ON CASTE, RELIGION AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

On September 11, the second day of the National Executive Committee meeting, a seminar on "Caste, Religion and Social Justice" was jointly organised by the Kula Vivaksha Vyatireka Porata Samgham (KVPS), the Andhra Pradesh unit of the Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch (DSMM), and the Ambedkar-Phule Vignana Kendram.

Subhashini Ali, National Vice-President of the DSMM, was the chief guest. She said perpetuating caste and gender discrimination was part of the BJP's political agenda. She said the BJP led union government was disregarding the Constitution and pursuing sectarian and communal policies that sought to reinforce the caste system.

The speakers criticised attempts to reinforce social and gender hierarchies and referred to the Swaminarayan Gurukul's restrictions on women. They also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for inaugurating a centre established by the organisation in France.

They recalled the pre-Independence struggles for temple entry led by Mahatma Gandhi, Periyar and A K Gopalan, as well as Dr B R Ambedkar's struggle for temple entry in Nashik. The speakers said constitutional rights to temple entry and social equality were being undermined in Uttar Pradesh. They said attempts had been made to strengthen caste and religious hierarchies under the banner of "Ghar Wapsi". They said attempts were being made to bring people who had converted to other religions back into the Hindu fold, even though many had converted to escape social discrimination and caste oppression. They compared the campaign with the Arya Samaj's efforts in the 1920s to bring converts back into the Hindu fold.

The speakers stressed that gender discrimination existed across religions, including Christianity and Islam, and argued that social justice and gender equality could not be achieved without economic equality.

They also recalled the opposition of RSS ideologue M S Golwalkar to the Constitution drafted by the Constituent Assembly in 1949 and his advocacy of the Manusmriti. They said the BJP government was weakening constitutional institutions while promoting principles associated with the Manusmriti.

The speakers further criticised what they described as increasing government control over electoral and judicial institutions and said this was contrary to the spirit of the Constitution.

They expressed concern over the rising cost of education and said competitive examinations were becoming increasingly inaccessible to ordinary people. Educational and employment opportunities, they said, were increasingly being captured by economically privileged sections, making it difficult for children from Dalit, tribal and other marginalised communities to obtain quality education and reach higher positions.

CONTINUING CASTE DISCRIMINATION

It was stated that a survey conducted by "Samajika Shankharavam" had revealed the continued prevalence of caste discrimination. The speakers called upon organisations and individuals to unite and fight against caste-based social discrimination.

K Lokanatham, State Secretary of the Agricultural Workers Union, said the "two-glass system" continued to exist in parts of the state and that Dalits were still denied access to certain services, including haircuts. He also pointed to the lack of separate burial grounds for Dalits in some areas.

KVPS State Secretary Andhra Malyadri said caste discrimination continued in different parts of the state.

CALL FOR STRUGGLE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE

DSMM National Vice-President V Srinivasa Rao called upon people to identify their friends and adversaries and organise struggles accordingly, particularly on issues concerning social justice.

He warned that if the government failed to respond to and resolve Dalit issues, a massive statewide agitation would be launched. V Srinivasa Rao said those in power were attempting to exploit people by reinforcing caste divisions. He said both the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) followed similar policies towards corporate interests despite their differences on other issues.

He said that while the two parties criticised each other and cancelled or discontinued welfare schemes, they adopted similar approaches when it came to handing over land to corporate interests or diverting assigned lands meant for the poor. He regretted that the recommendations of the Koneru Ranga Rao Committee concerning land distribution to Dalits had still not been implemented.

He also criticised attempts to divide people along caste and sub-caste lines, saying such divisions weakened social unity. He referred to what he described as the forceful takeover of a temple in a Dalit colony in Akividu and criticised the harassment of Dalits, Adivasis and Backward Classes by the police. He said members of these communities were frequently booked under serious charges for minor offences, while upper-caste individuals who had defaulted on loans worth crores of rupees were treated with greater consideration.

KVPS leader Kranthi Kumar welcomed the speakers and participants, while State President O. Nallappa proposed the vote of thanks. Artists from the "Praja March" group performed progressive songs.