The Congress party, particularly Mahila Congress, continues to strongly condemn Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma’s controversial statement that “during the Congress era, women had to exchange dignity-for-jobs” The remark has sparked outrage, leading to widespread protests across the state, with the Pradesh Mahila Congress even burning an effigy of the Chief Minister.
In response to Sarma’s statement, the North Eastern Mahila Congress leaders jointly addressed a press conference at a hotel in Guwahati on Sunday. Assam Pradesh Mahila Congress President Mira Borthakur Goswami, Meghalaya Mahila Congress President Jopiyn Scott Shylla, Mizoram Mahila Congress President Zodinliani Ji, Manipur Mahila Congress President Mutum Sharma Devi, Nagaland Mahila Congress President Odikumla Pongen, and Tripura Mahila Congress President Sarbani Chakravarty attended the conference.
During the press meet, each of the North East Mahila Congress presidents condemned the Chief Minister’s comment in the strongest terms. They expressed anger over what they described as a disgrace to the dignity and merit of working women, demanding a public apology from the Chief Minister for his offensive remark.
Speaking at the conference, Mira Borthakur Goswami said, “We, the women presidents of the North East Congress units, strongly condemn the Chief Minister’s statement. The BJP does not know how to respect women. They were silent when women were paraded naked in Manipur. They were also quiet during the case of Junmoni Rabha’s death and Indrani Tahbildar’s suicide. While they talk about ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao,’ the Chief Minister makes such shameful remarks about Congress-era women getting jobs in exchange for chastity. We will lodge complaints with the respective State Women Commissions tomorrow and launch protest programs. We also demand a CBI inquiry into the matter.”
Formation of North East Mahila Congress Forum
Mira Borthakur Goswami further stated, “The Chief Minister is now powerless and is trying to cross the electoral river using such inflammatory remarks. We will soon form a North East Mahila Congress Forum to collectively protest any derogatory remarks made against women. We warn the Chief Minister not to insult women again.”
It is noteworthy that Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma had recently made this controversial comment while speaking at a Panchayat election campaign rally, targeting the Congress party. His statement has since drawn sharp criticism from various sections, with the Congress organizing protest programs across several parts of Assam.