MARGAO: The women’s wing of the Gakuved Federation along with concerned citizens of Goa are organising a peaceful candlelight vigil on August 9 at 5 pm at Lohia Maidan, Margao, ‘to stand in solidarity with the violence-hit
Manipur citizens and to condemn the sexual assault against
Manipur women.
“We are pained to see the inhuman and cruel act of stripping, parading, molestation and rape of tribal women in Manipur and the violence experienced by all women in Manipur State during the last more than three months. We have no words to condemn cruelty against women and other tribals,” said women tribal leaders of
Goa, who are part of Gakuved
Federation.
Describing in detail the horrific incident that occurred in Manipur in May where two women were paraded by a mob, Gakuved’s women’s wing said it was an inhumane barbaric act that went against all civilisation and culture of any race or community of any part of the world and that it brought shame not just to India but to the community called human beings. The women tribal leaders of Goa further pointed out that this is not the only incident that took place in Manipur but that similar incidents of brutality and sexual assault on women have been reported and are still continuing to happen in Manipur.
“There are also reports that similar incidents are taking place in other states of India, raising serious questions about the safety, security, and dignity of women in India. We should be vigilant that such incidents should not happen in Goa,” they added.
“It is also deeply disturbing that despite being aware that such incidents show a recurring pattern in our country, the respective State governments and the central
government have failed to intervene and protect the women of Manipur and other States,” they added further.
