Thousands of women from across India gathered in the capital of Delhi on October 5 to protest worsening socio-economic conditions under the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Organized by the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), the action was held under the banner, “BJP-RSS Hatao, Mahila Bachao, Desh Bachao!” or, “Remove BJP-RSS, Save women, Save the country!” The BJP is Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party and RSS its far-right ideological parent organization, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
The protest brought together 10,000 women from over 25 states across India. According to AIDWA President Mariam Dhawale, “The women have declared, we will unite together and defeat the Modi government and BJP-RSS in 2024.” India will hold its next general elections that year.
Speaking to the current plight of women in the country, Dhawale told Newsclick, “The BJP-RSS government is intent on destroying the country… To destroy the country is to destroy the impoverished people living in the country… Hunger has risen, unemployment has risen, violence has risen… The government is selling to Ambani and Adani.”
Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani are billionaire Indian businessmen who have close ties with Narendra Modi and have benefitted immensely from the current administration’s pro-corporate policies.
Dhawale added, “A whole conspiracy has been devised to divide people on the basis of religion, using the politics of hatred… To ensure that people remain afraid, that they do not come together, a politics of suppression is being used.”
