: The 1980s and 90s witnessed many powerful chapters in the womens movement - anti barrack movements in Himachal pradesh, Andhara Pradeshand Uttarkhand; against price rise, national campaigns against rape, especially custodial rapes and state repression that forced the government to introduce some changes in the rape law; struggles against dowry burning that led to the enactment of anti-dowry law; against sati (following the Roop Kanwar sati case of 1989) leading to the enactment of a law for prevention and against glorification of sati. The womens movement was always very active in confronting communalism. Be it in Surat in 1992 or Gujarat in 2002, women have always been the worst victims of the communal riot. The womens faced a major challenge when, in the wake of Saha Bano verdict where the supreme court ruled in favour of a divorced Muslim womans right to maintenance., the Rajiv Gandhi Government introduced a Bill to exclude Muslim women form he purview of the right to maintenance. This move was a political game to offset the same Congress Governments pandering to communal forces in the Ram Janmabhoomi agitation launched by the Sangh Parivar and BJP. While firmly defending Muslim womens rights, the womens movement also waged a powerful battle against communal violence. #LokSabhaElections2014 Because they talk about womens empowerment. they just talk. :)
Posted on: Sun, 06 Apr 2014 16:50:20 +0000