Firozabad (UP): Congress General Secretary In-charge Uttar Pradesh Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on December 29, 2021, interacted with women in Uttar Pradesh, asked them to make their elected representative more accountable and steer clear of voting on lines of caste and religion.

During an interactive session with women as part of her party’s ‘Ladki hoon, lad sakti hoon’ Campaign here, she said that all political parties have started talking about women after the Congress raised their issues.

She also said that the Congress announcing to give 40 per cent of tickets to women in the Uttar Pradesh polls is a big initiative. “If the bill on women reservation has not been passed in the Parliament till now, this move will ensure its passage.” The Congress leader responded to a question about the fate of the women reservation bill. She took questions from a cross section of women during the interaction.

Pinning the blame on voting on the basis of caste and religion, Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that the leaders come to voters and make announcements without any accountability or result. But this was not just the fault of the ‘Netas’ but also of the women.

“When it comes to talk of caste, community and religion, you cast your vote on these factors. Why will a neta work when they know people vote on caste and religion,” She said in Firozabad while interacting with women at her party’s ‘Shakti Samvaad’. Her question is part of the Congress’ attempt to break the existing caste patterns in the State, where caste loyalties and divisions dominate political discourse and representation, through talks of uniting the women voters by various promises including 40% share in ticket distribution in the upcoming election.

Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, “Work would get done when voters make their netas more accountable and when they ensure the win of the party which talks of ‘Positive’ things and empowerment rather than the one which talks of ‘Negative’ things. Otherwise, they will continue to be ‘betrayed and lured’ by this type of politics.”

“The salary or honorarium of Anganwadi workers, ASHA bahus, Shiksha Mitras has not been hiked nor their services regularized,” she added.

“When they ask for their rights, they are beaten up. We have seen time and again that this government has rejected the rights of women. They are not able to understand the power of women,” she said.

AICC General Secretary referred to the Ujjwala scheme of the BJP government, under which free cooking gas was provided to poor families, and said that by simply providing women a gas cylinder the government thought it could abdicate all responsibility. “They won’t even ask how will you get the second cylinder (refill), how will you get empowered, how your education will get complete and how to create employment. They think you will all vote for them if they provide you just one gas cylinder,” She further said.

She added, “We have made a manifesto in which we have said what we want to do for you in the field of health, education and employment. We will give jobs to 20 lakhs of which eight lakhs to women, will work for your self-respect, security and for making you strong in a proper manner.”

Cautioning women against falling for caste and religion cards during the polls, she said, “When a leader knows that at the election time they will get votes on caste and religion, why will they work? They will only work when they know that if they have not done any work, they will not get a vote again.”

The Congress leader further said that if women vote for Congress, they will be voting for their empowerment. Earlier, Smt. Priyanka Gandhi had visited the home of a woman who makes bangles. She chatted with the women there and had tea with them.

Valmiki Samaj will fight its own battle, Congress will give ticket Agra (UP): Congress General Secretary Smt. Priyanka Gandhi has said that atrocities are being committed on Valmiki society. After Hathras incident and Arun Valmiki massacre, Valmiki Samaj will fight its own battle. Congress will give ticket to one person from the society. On December 29, 2021, in Agra, Smt. Priyanka Gandhi interacted with the Takht Chaudharys of Valmiki Samaj for more than 30 minutes. He described the incidents of murder of a girl of Valmiki family in Hathras and Arun Narwar in Agra as worrying. She said that Valmiki Samaj will have to fight its own battle. She promised that the party would give Congress ticket to a person from Valmiki Samaj in an assembly seat in Agra. The prominent people of the society should decide their own candidate, the party will make him its candidate.

During this, the people of Valmiki Samaj told her their problems. They submitted the complaint letter. She also listened very carefully to the words of Takht Choudhary. Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that everywhere in the state including Agra, where your vote will be held, the party will show seriousness to give tickets. Smt. Priyanka Gandhi reached the Vatika at 6.15 pm after attending the programme in Firozabad. Congress workers were stopped outside but she went inside without talking to anyone.

Only selected people were given entry in the Vatika. The Chaudhuris of the society handed over the closed envelope to Smt. Priyanka Gandhi. During this, Man Singh, Jhilloram, Ballo Prasad, PC Narwar, Hari Kumar Chauhan, Ramjilal Vidyarthi, LalaramFauji, Vikas Paras and Congress State General Secretary Ajay Valmiki, State Secretary VineshSanwal, State Vice President Upendra Singh, District President were among the Takht Chaudharys of Valmiki Samaj. Raghavendra Singh Meenu, City President Devendra Kumar Chillu were present.

Smt. Priyanka made Arun’s daughter Kanak sit in her lap Smt. Priyanka Gandhi met Arun Narwar’s mother Kamala Devi, wife Sonam, brother Sonu. She kept talking to him for a long time. During this, she kept Arun’s daughter sitting in her lap. Arun Narwar, a sanitation worker belonging to Valmiki community, had allegedly died in police custody in Agra in October 2021.

There is a discussion that the party can also declare any member of Arun’s family as its candidate. On the other hand, Ranjit Khare, who was a manager in an automobile company, was murdered a few days back. Ranjeet’s family members also submitted a demand letter demanding a fair investigation in the murder case.