Women ignored under NC rule in J&K: Rajni Sethi

• Modi govt empowered women: Rajni Sethi

JAMMU: The statement of National Conference (NC) President regarding the empowerment of women in society appears to be more of a political stunt rather than a genuine commitment to women's rights, stated Rajni Sethi. Rajni Sethi, spokesperson, J&K BJP was accompanied by Dr. Pardeep Mahotra, Media Incharge, J&K BJP, while she addressed a press conference at party headquarters, Trikuta Nagar, Jammu.

“If the NC government truly believed in women's empowerment, why did they not ensure equal rights for women in Jammu and Kashmir when they were in power in the past?”, said Rajni Sethi.

For decades, women in J&K were deprived of fundamental rights due to discriminatory laws under Article 370 and Article 35A. A J&K woman who married an outsider was denied the right to inherit property from her parents, whereas men faced no such restriction. Furthermore, women from marginalized communities like the Valmiki Samaj, West Pakistani refugees, and Gorkhas were denied voting rights and government jobs. If NC truly stood for women's rights, why did they never address these injustices?

Rajni Sethi said that it was only after the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A by the Modi government that women of all communities in J&K received equal rights. Now, whether a woman marries within J&K or outside, she retains her inheritance rights. Women are also participating in local governance through 33% reservation in BDC and DDC elections, and a historic bill has been passed in Parliament ensuring 33% reservation for women in assembly and parliamentary elections. Additionally, the BJP ensured 33% reservation for women in its organizational structure up to the state level. In contrast, the NC has failed to provide similar representation to women within its own party.

NC President Farooq Abdullah’s statement on women’s rights seems hollow when we look at the past injustices against Kashmiri women under his government. One critical question that remains unanswered is: Did the NC government take any concrete steps to deliver justice to Kashmiri Pandit women who were subjected to violence, rape, and displacement during the 1990s insurgency? Did they form any committee or appeal to displaced Kashmiri Pandit women to return and live safely in their homeland? The answer is no. Instead of addressing these historical wrongs, NC leaders have often engaged in mere rhetoric, while real reforms and justice for women in J&K have been achieved only under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Rajni Sethi further added that Farooq Abdullah’s sympathy for women appears selective and politically motivated. If he is truly committed to women's empowerment, he should begin by ensuring equal representation for women in his own party and acknowledge the contributions of the current government in securing equal rights for all women in J&K.