Priyanka for women power in UP, 40 per cent tickets for women

Congress has decided to give 40 per cent of the tickets for the ensuing Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. This was announced by All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi, who is in-charge of the state, announced at a press conference in Lucknow this afternoon.

Gandhi said that she has been seeing the problems of women, from various sections of the society in the country and realised that there is a need to empower women politically, irrespective of caste, creed religion or status. She launched a party slogan, ladki hoon, lad sakti hoon, (I am a girl, I can fight).

She told media persons about the women she met in Hathras, Lakhimpur Kheri and other parts of the state, all of whom have aspirations and dreams to achieve something, but lack the opportunities. She narrated the case of the two women constables, who arrested her at 1 am, when she was on the way to Lakhimpur and empathised with them as they finished their duty at 4 am.

Asked about the purpose of such a decision, she reiterated that the purpose is to empower women. Replying to another question, she said that she would have loved to see women get 50 per cent of the party tickets for the elections, but the party had agreed to 40 per cent.

She appealed to women to come forward and send in their applications for the party tickets for the ensuing Assembly elections. The criteria for allotment of tickets would be the work done in the constituency and the contact with people in the area, she said.

Gandhi said it is essential to look at the people with compassion. “It is not enough to give a gas cylinder or Rs 2,000,” she said.

On a question regarding the party’s work in Uttar Pradesh, she said that over 18,000 Congress party workers have been jailed for periods ranging from three days to three months, for protesting against the government in support of the people, who are suffering. “That goes to show that the party has been on the ground with the people, raising their issues and problems,” she added.