Date:03/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/03/stories/2008030366370300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

‘No security for women in State’

Staff Reporter

Congress trying to woo the fair sex with doles, says Roja

Sees attempt to protect real culprits in
Ayesha murder case
Calls for teaching Congress a lesson in the
coming elections

Kothagudem: Telugu Mahila State president Roja made a scathing attack on the State government for what she called the attempts being made by the people in power to protect the real offenders in the Ayesha murder case.

Addressing a meeting of the Telugu Mahila Khammam district unit in the coal town, she said that women enjoyed no security in the State and a majority of them, including girl students. were living in a state of constant fear. The Telugu Mahila leader said that the government had announced sops for women in the budget in view of the nearing elections.

The Congress had no commitment to the cause of women. It had all the time been trying to appease them with doles. She called for teaching the Congress a lesson both in the State and at the Centre.

Quota issue

She wanted women to fight for the 33 per cent reservation which the government had failed to materialise despite a hue and cry being made all over the country. She said that the TDP had given women whatever status and privileges they were enjoying now.

There was yawning gap between the words and deeds of the government so far as the benefits for women were concerned.

The women were disillusioned with the government, she said.

Telgu Mahila general secretary M. Baby Swarnakumari, TDP district leaders Tummala Nageswara Rao, Balasani Lakshminarayana and a host of others took part.