Mokokchung, 29 October (MTNews): Veteran Nagaland Congress leader K Therie on Sunday called for women to participate more actively in politics. He said that women have the power to change the political equations as they make up almost 50% of the electorate.
Therie stated in a press release that the Women’s Reservation Bill is now a reality, and that Congress has promised to amend the Bill and implement it if given the opportunity. He believes that women’s participation in the Assemblies will improve decency in governance.
Looking ahead to 2028, Therie anticipated at least 20 women members in the State Assembly and 4-5 women members in Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), hoping “at least a hundred women legislators will be seen.”
He then quoted Sonia Gandhi, who recently reasserted the need to implement the Women’s Reservation Bill. He said that it is time for women to decide and join political parties, and to learn about the Constitution and the functions of political parties.
The Congress veteran urged women to participate more actively in politics, saying that they have the power to change the political equations in India. He said that women make up almost 50% of the electorate, and that their vote is the most important and powerful tool they have.
Therie said, “There is nothing more important or powerful than the vote. Only the vote is recognized. All wisdom and narratives have no meaning without a vote.”
Therie also criticized the present trend of bribing votes, calling it “unchristian.” He said that religion and politics are services to humanity, and that they have the same goals. He said that given the opportunity, the Congress will adopt technologies for a clean democratic election.
Therie cited the example of an Anganwadi woman worker who defeated a sitting Chief Minister in an election. He said that the woman worker had served the people in that constituency for almost 20 years, and that she knew every house. He said that after voting, she predicted she would win by 15 votes, and she actually won by a margin of 17 votes.
Therie concluded by saying that women of all ages must understand that their “minimum responsibility is 33%” and that they should fill the 33% reservation for women in the Assemblies or it will remain vacant. He particularly urged women aged 18 and above, especially retired employees, to join political parties.
The two ideologies
In India, Therie said, there are two diverse ideological parties and that the regional parties survive by supporting either one of the ideologies.
Therie went on to contrast the ideologies of the BJP and the Congress. He said that the BJP’s ideology is Hindutva, which means Hindu Rashtra (Hindu Kingdom), Hindi language, and Hinduism. He said that to the BJP, Uniform Civil Code means “One Nation, One Language and One Religion.”
He accused the BJP of practicing untouchability, prohibiting women from entering temples, and hating women. He said that the BJP claims that India is the land of Hindus and that Muslims and Christians have no right to rule.
Therie then contrasted the BJP’s ideology with the Congress’s ideology, which is secular, socialist, and democratic. He said that the Congress believes in “unity in diversity” and in freedom of religion and freedom of expression.
He said that the Congress aims to provide justice and equality to all sections of people, and that it is against untouchability. He said that for the Congress, all citizens are equal.