Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 30: In a significant show of support, a delegation of women from Jammu today welcomed the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) decision to nominate Sham Lal Sharma, State vice president and former Minister, as the candidate from the Jammu North Assembly constituency. The enthusiastic welcome highlighted the growing support for the BJP’s commitment to women’s rights and empowerment under the leadership of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.
Speaking on the occasion, Sham Lal Sharma expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support from the women of Jammu. He emphasized that since the formation of the Government under the leadership of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, the security, dignity, and participation of women have been key focus areas. He stated, “The BJP Government has taken historic steps to ensure the upliftment and empowerment of women across the country, and this will continue to be a priority in Jammu and Kashmir as well.”
Referring to the recent legislative developments, Sharma highlighted the passing of the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’ (Women’s Reservation Bill) in the Lok Sabha. “This Bill, the first to be passed after the Lok Sabha shifted to the new Parliament building, reflects the Government’s unwavering commitment to enhancing women’s representation and participation in the political process,” he noted. The Bill was passed by a majority of the total membership of the House and by no less than two-thirds of the members present and voting, a clear indicator of its widespread support.
Sham Lal criticized the previous Governments in Jammu and Kashmir for their negligence towards women’s rights. “Women in Jammu and Kashmir have historically been among the most disadvantaged sections. They were not only denied their constitutional rights, but their existing rights were also gradually eroded. Women who married outside Jammu and Kashmir were deprived of property rights,” he said.
However, Sharma acknowledged that significant changes have taken place since the abrogation of Article 370. “Today, women in Jammu and Kashmir have the right to buy real estate and transfer property to their children, irrespective of whom they marry. Additionally, a recent provision in the domicile laws now allows the spouse of a native woman, who is a domicile holder in the Union Territory, to obtain domicile status. This is a significant step forward in ensuring equality and justice for women in Jammu and Kashmir,” Sharma added.
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