Congress Marathon Event For UP Women Challenges Omicron Curbs

Thousands of women turned up for marathons in Lucknow and Jhansi this morning under Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's women-centric "Ladki hoon, lad sakti hoon (I'm a girl and can fight)" campaign in Uttar Pradesh. But the event proved a non-starter in state capital Lucknow, with the administration denying permission for a run in view of Covid. Videos shared by the Congress on social media showed a huge large gathering, where the women held vocal protests against the administration.  

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra slammed the state government over the denial of permission. "Yes, you talk anti-women things like controlling girls, that's why you didn't allow girls' marathon in Lucknow. Girls of Jhansi have sent you a message that girls will not tolerate (this), they will fight for their rights. If you can rally, girls will run," read her Hindi tweet.

"The state government did not have a problem when lakhs of students flouted Covid protocols during a government programme where laptops were distributed, then why now," a woman is heard saying in a video being circulated on social media.

In Jhansi, however, the run was held with permission of district authorities.

"I am a girl, I can fight marathon, Jhansi. Girls will fight for their rights, for their flight, for change," posted Ms Gandhi Vadra, who however, did not attend either event.

'लड़की हूं, लड़ सकती हूं' मैराथन में बेटियां दौड़ रही हैं, आगे बढ़ रही हैं।

अब बेटियां डरेंगी नहीं लड़ेंगी, क्योंकि 'लड़की हूं, लड़ सकती हूं' का नारा बेटियों को हिम्मत दे रहा है। pic.twitter.com/SVzqY2IJzE

- Congress (@INCIndia) December 26, 2021

The Congress, which has been reduced to a virtual non-player in Uttar Pradesh, has been focusing on gender equality in view of the spiraling crimes against women in the state.  Some of these cases -- including the gangrape of a Dalit woman in Hathras, and the case in Unnao -- made headlines and provoked outrage across the country.

भाजपा सरकार 'लड़की हूं, लड़ सकती हूं' के नारे की गूंज सुन ले-

अब बेटियां जुल्म-अत्याचार नहीं सहेंगी।
अब बेटियां अत्याचार के खिलाफ लड़ेंगी, आवाज बुलंद करेंगी। pic.twitter.com/CGfP03CM7G

- Congress (@INCIndia) December 26, 2021

To ensure participation in the event, the party did not charge any entry fee and announced attractive prizes that included two-wheelers, smartphones, fitness bands and medals.

The BJP has also launched a number of schemes for women in the politically crucial state. Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated projects to transfer more than 1,000 crore into the bank accounts of over 16 lakh women.

The Samajwadi Party has also tried to highlight its initiatives for women undertaken during the party governments led by Akhilesh Yadav and his father Mulayam Singh Yadav.  

"Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) got toilets built for women and he was also the first to give gas cylinders to them, but never got his photographs clicked. However, the current government gets its pictures clicked. The SP has worked (for the people), hence, you should help in the formation of an SP government," said Aparna Yadav, who is the wife of Mulayam Singh's younger son Prateek Yadav.