Women leave Govt red-faced, raise pro-freedom slogans at official function
Scores of women stormed out of a government function at SKICC and raised pro-freedom slogans after alleging that they were “deceived” to take part in the event where Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, was to address a gathering.
The protesting women rushed out of the event while raising Azadi slogans. During the event CM, Mehbooba Mufti, was to interact with women self-help groups at the function which was organized by Jammu and Kashmir State Rural Livelihoods Mission. Later talking to reporters Mehbooba said that chaos prevailed after a lady fainted. “Women were present in large numbers and probably a lady fainted. She didn’t get water and others panicked. Hope this programme is organized again because it is an important event,” she told reporters.
However after the incident Opposition lost no time in taking a swipe at government to criticize the ruling PDP-BJP alliance and the Chief Minister.
Former chief minister and National Conference working president Omar Abdullah took to Twitter and retweeted a post of his party spokesperson Junaid Azim Mattoo. “Women storm out of @MehboobaMufti’s event at SKICC and raise Azadi slogans. Say they were coerced to attend the function. Wake up @JKPDP,” Mattoo had tweeted. Omar retweeted the post and wrote, “This is what happens when the machinery of Govt is used for the sole purpose of rebuilding @MehboobaMufti’s non-existing credibility.” “I dread to imagine what lies @MehboobaMufti tells PM Modi in private when she can’t even be honest about things everyone can see videos of,’’ Omar said.
The trouble had started earlier during the day at the gate of SKICC when women participants objected to enter the premises alleging they had been brought to venue deceitfully. However, the organizers somehow managed the situation and brought them in. As soon as the CM appeared in the lawns of SKICC after delivering the lecture inside, the angry participants started raising “Azadi slogans” and threw chairs, water bottles and other furniture towards the dice.
“We had been called for some UMEED function and not told that Mehbooba will be here,” said a woman, who was among hundreds of others to protest and raised slogans of “Hum Kya Chahtay Azadi”.
A government spokesman said that Chief Minister expressed her disappointment over the poor arrangements made at the venue where around ten to twelve thousand women belonging to self-help groups from different parts of the Valley had come to meet the Chief Minister and interact with her.
Mehbooba Mufti expressed her disappointment to the organizers for the lack of basic facilities at the venue like drinking water, sanitation or medical help for the women who had come for the meeting. “Many women fainting at the venue due to nausea or lack of proper space for them of which the Chief Minister took a serious note,’’ the spokesman said.
KV Correspondent
