Growing atmosphere of intolerance, violence against women:

CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat today claimed there was a growing atmosphere of intolerance and violence against women in the country.

Speaking at a convention organised by the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIADWA) on the issue of assault on women's citizenship rights, she also alleged that that the "promotion of regressive and reactionary ideologies by those in power has resulted in assault on women's citizenship rights".

"The basic issue is about women citizenship rights. Our citizenship doesn't flow from any religious authority. It flows from the Constitution. And today they are trying to replace the Constitution of India by Hindutva," Karat claimed.
 

Women victims of moral policing, honour crimes, sexual violence and "attacks by the Sangh Parivar" for their caste and religion narrated their plight in the convention.

"Was my son Junaid not an Indian? Was his blood different in colour than any Hindu," asked Saira Begum, whose son Junaid was stabbed to death on a train near Ballabhgarh in Haryana in June.

"It was a conspiracy. They had planned before killing my father. Now the people who killed my father have been rewarded with jobs," said Shaista, the youngest daughter of Mohammad Akhlaq who was brutally assaulted by a mob in Dadri's Bishada village on September 28 last year over rumours of cow slaughter. Later Akhlaq had succumbed to his injuries.

Azra Parveen and Sumit Chauhan, a young couple who had an inter-religion marriage said love jihad and honour killings should be stopped by the government.

"First they try to scare us by love jihad. When they can't, they kill in the name of honour crimes. It shows that they are insecure and through honour killing they wants to send a message to others," Azra said.