Team Herald
PANJIM: In a show of solidarity with the Cansaulim gang rape victim, members of the Goa Pradesh Youth Congress, Mahila Congress and Pradesh Congress Committee staged a protest at Azad Maidan on Friday, demanding stronger actions from the State government to ensure the safety and protection of women. The protest highlighted the growing concerns over crimes against women in Goa and the government’s failure to address these issues adequately.
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Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) General Secretary Manisha Usgaonkar, called attention to the BJP government’s alleged inaction in tackling crimes against women. Usgaonkar expressed disappointment at the government’s focus on land conversion while ignoring the rising incidents of sexual violence. “The BJP government has turned a blind eye when crimes like rape occur. The women leaders of the BJP, who once protested against crimes before 2012, are now silent. They gave the slogan ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’, but have failed to guarantee the safety of girls, particularly those pursuing higher education,” she said.
Panjim Block President Pratibha Borkar claimed that there had been around 147 incidents of crime against women in the past year alone, with the numbers continuing to rise. “The question remains, who will change this mentality of rape and violence against women?” she questioned.
The protesters also called for urgent action, including the introduction of self-defence lessons for all girls from the 7th standard onwards. They argued that, despite the increasing number of rape cases, the government has shown no initiative to curb such crimes.
Goa Pradesh Youth Congress President Mahesh Nadar criticised the government’s failure to install CCTV cameras in schools, colleges, and public spaces, given the frequency of reported incidents. “The government has not taken any safety measures for women. We demand that self-defence classes be introduced in schools. Martial arts should be a subject in the curriculum. However, teaching martial arts alone will not solve the issue. The mentality of men must also change,” he stated.
GPCC General Secretary Shriniwas Khalap pointed out the inefficiency of the police response, claiming that emergency numbers provided by the government are often unresponsive. “Isn’t it the responsibility of the chief minister, who heads the home department, to ensure that the police respond promptly? What use are emergency numbers if the police don’t arrive on time? The home department must be held accountable, as even basic issues are being ignored,” Khalap asserted.
Carrying placards with slogans such as ‘Power Hungry BJP has failed on women’s safety’ and ‘Do not boast of detection, focus on protection,’ the Congress leaders rallied against the BJP government, urging them to prioritise the safety of women.
