Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Aug 26: Union Minister of State in PMO with Independent Charge of North Eastern States , Dr Jitendra Singh today lambasted the forces opposing the rights of women and alleged that those opposing the equality of women stand totally exposed.
Talking to reporters here, today on the sidelines of a function organized by Ramakrishna Mission, Udheywala Bohri in connection with inauguration of Vivekananda Auditorium, he said “broadly speaking this entire debate has one good purpose of exposing those who were vehemently opposed to concept of equal rights to women”.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that the debate over the issue has come on the auspicious day of Raksha Bandhan and centuries old great social reformer and freedom fighter, Raja Ram Mohan Rai has started a crusade for rights of women and the same was also followed by father of Nation, Mahatma Gandhi who was the torch bearer for equal rights to women.
The Union Minister, while strongly advocating for equal rights to women said that the Maharaja regime in J&K is credited with having initiated various schemes and taken special initiatives in education of the women.
Making a strong dig at Congress and its allies, Dr Jitendra Singh said those who are opposed to equal rights to women belonging to Congress and its allies are the same people who have opposed the concept of Legislation opposing Triple Talaq. Now these are the same forces who are opposing the equal rights to women, he added.
He said these people have no problem in asking dowry from their daughter in-laws if they happen to be from outside the State. This is a issue which will have larger connotations of creating a wedge between brother and sister over inheritance property,” he added.
The Union Minister, however, ruled out that the BJP was using the issue keeping the next year’s Parliamentary elections in view and said that “we are not taking political mileage of the issue as it is totally a social and cultural issue and society has to evolve a consensus.
Dr Jitendra Singh later while addressing the main function at Ramakrishna Mission said that credit goes to Prime Minister, Narendra Modi who brought the Bill on Triple Talaq and it is unfortunate that some vested interests here are against rights of women.
He said Prime Minister in his Mann ki Baat today has referred to the performance of Indian girls in Jakarta, Asian Games and a Kashmiri girl Ankita Raina who got Presidential Medal. “Instead of taking pride in the performance of these girls and encouraging their initiative we are imposing penalties if any one of them marries outside”, he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that this issue was settled hundreds of years by Raja Ram Mohan Rai and great revolutionary saint of India Swami Vivekananda but unfortunately in this State it is still alive.
While paying glowing tributes to Swami Vivekananda, he said Swami Ji had said that service to humanity is service to God and it was he who gave the concept of universal religion. He said following the same pattern Prime Minister, Narendra Modi tried to tie entire India in one chord.
He said Swami Ji who gave the concept of universal religion was himself pragmatic which is missing today. “When he gave concept of universal religion it means that all people are brothers,”. “Swami Vivekananda had said a human being is that he who lives for others and when we act upon this concept then no body has to be reminded again and again that you live for others”, he added,.
The Union Minister said that how much we have understood Swami Vivekananda can be borne from the fact that we are still opposed to rights of women.
A onus also lies on the social and cultural organizations to start a debate over the issue that the women deserve and should get the equal rights at par with men, he added.
Earlier addressing the function, Swami Muktidanandaji of Adhyaaksha, Advaita Ashram , Mayavati Uttarakhand, a trustee of Ramakrishna Math who presided over the function said Swami Vivekananda Ji had acknowledged that knowledge alone can make us perfect and great. He while quoting Swami Vivekananda, said right and progressive knowledge makes transformation of a human being.
He said the J&K is a seat of learning where Kashmira Vasni Sharda is worshiped. Sharda is the Goddess of learning. He said Swami Vivekananda had said knowledge can make us perfect and Kashmir was seat of learning from times immemorial. The Swami Ji wanted transformation of India and awakening of its people. He worked hard in this regard, he added.
Swami Vivekananda was a wondering monk who visited entire country to see the condition of people enslaved by Britishers, he said, adding Swami Ji also worked in entire world as an integrating force.
Swami Nirantarananda, secretary of the Mission read the welcome address and said Swami Vivekananda was a great philosopher and icon of the youth. He also gave a resume of various activities of Shri Ramakrishna Mission.
The vote of thanks was proposed by Justice (retd) Suresh Kumar Sharma, president, management committee Rama-krishna Mission. On the occasion Prof Rita Jitender also spoke while Sehyog India tied a Rakhi around the wrist of Dr Jitendra Singh on behalf of the differently abled children adopted by it. Founder president of Sehyog India Dr Ashwani Jojra was also present.
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