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Senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin took centre stage at the DMK Women’s Rights Conference in Chennai on Saturday evening, emphasising the need for women’s empowerment and the pressing urgency for unity against “divisive forces ruling the country”.
Beginning her address by commemorating the legacy of the late M Karunanidhi, former Tamil Nadu CM and DMK stalwart, Sonia said he was ahead of his time as a “champion of gender equality”. She also commended the efforts of the Stalin-led DMK government in advancing women’s rights in the state. “Stalin has raised [women’s participation in government services] to 40 per cent and I commend him for this,” she said.
Sonia reminded the audience of the sacrifices and strides made by leaders in the past for women’s rights. “The remarkable non-violent freedom struggle led by Mahatma Gandhi placed a strong emphasis on gender equality,” she said. She also invoked Jawaharlal Nehru’s words, saying, “If you educate a man, you educate an individual. However, if you educate a woman, you educate a whole family.”
In his address, Stalin targeted the BJP, saying its promise of 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and legislatures was deceptive and insincere. He emphasised the importance of quotas for women from OBC and minority communities, and criticised the BJP for not including it in the Women’s Reservation Bill.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi seems intent on establishing a single-party rule,” he said, saying it was important for parties to be united to defeat the BJP.
“A united alliance, like the one in Tamil Nadu, should be formed in every state across India,” he said. He called for a coalition that not only seeks electoral wins, but also embodies the ideologies of social justice, secularism, autonomy for states, federalism, and inclusive political participation. He said the INDIA bloc’s foundation lay in these tenets.
“By making this alliance win, we will ensure that not only women’s rights, but the rights of all citizens are safeguarded,” he added.
The conference was attended by a large number of women, including senior national political leaders. They asserted unity, empowerment, and the urgent need to address the challenges women face in today’s socio-political landscape.
Among the leaders at the conference were the Congress’s Priyanka Gandhi, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, NCP MP Supriya Sule, Bihar MLA Leshi Singh of the JDU, Delhi Assembly Deputy Speaker Rakhi Birla of the AAP, Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav, TMC leader Sushmita Dev, CPI(M) leader Subhashini Ali and CPI leader Annie Raja. The main organiser of the event was senior DMK MP Kanimozhi.
Speaking at the event, held as part of the 100th birth anniversary of Karunanidhi, Priyanka paid tribute to the former CM and other Tamil icons such as social reformer Periyar and DMK founder Annadurai. She demanded the immediate implementation of the Women’s Reservation Bill and called for women to own their power, end tolerance of injustices, and reject oppressive systems.
She also shared emotional memories of her father’s assassination and the solace she found in the women of Tamil Nadu.
