Priyanka Gandhi Vadra says if you have faced injustice, you can fight it.
The Unnao rape victim’s mother, an anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) activist and ASHA worker, are among 50 women candidates in the Congress party’s first list of the upcoming 125 candidates. Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections,
Releasing the list at an online press conference on Thursday, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said it sends a “new message” that “those facing injustice have the power to fight back for their rights”.
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“The Congress party in UP will give you this strength, support and all possible help so that you can fight your battle. Come into politics, fight for your rights by being a part of the power structure,” Ms Vadra said.
Rape victim’s mother Asha Singh has been fielded from Unnao assembly seat and in Uttar Pradesh, anti-CAA activist and party spokesperson Sadaf Zafar has been fielded from Lucknow central seat.
The 2017 Unnao gang rape incident made headlines when former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar was not only convicted for sexually assaulting the 17-year-old victim, but was also found to be involved in her father’s death.
Poonam Pandey, a ASHA worker and activist who fought for the rights of Asha workers, has been fielded from the Ponga constituency against Ram Raj Gond, a tribal leader fighting for the rights of tribals in Shahjahanpur and Sonbhadra.
Ms Vadra said the Congress is making a fresh start by fielding 40% women candidates, while the other 40% are youth.
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“I don’t see this as creating a new vote bank for young women. I see it as an empowerment for women to ask for their rights and stand up for themselves. They are 50% of the population, and clearly, it is their right to participate in politics,” Ms Vadra told Hindu Asked whether Congress is creating a new constituency of women voters in these elections.
Asked what role Congress sees in these elections, the party’s UP in-charge said that they want to strengthen its organization and work towards removing the Yogi Adityanath government.
“Today the government in Uttar Pradesh is a dictatorial government,” he said. He said the party was ready to support a non-BJP alliance after the polls if needed.
Soon after the list was released, former party president Rahul Gandhi tweeted, “In Unnao, whose daughter was wronged by the BJP, she will now be the face of justice – will fight & win! #Elections2022.”
Apart from fielding State Congress Committee President Ajay Kumar Lallu (Tamkuhi Raj), Legislature Party leaders Aradhana Mishra Mona (Rampur Khas) and Lewis Khurshid (Farrukhabad), the party has given tickets to journalists, actors and social workers, who have fought on the streets. for their rights.
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