On March 9, National Commission for Women (NCW) took cognisance of Rajasthan Police officials for mistreating and assaulting Pulwama martyrs’ widows. NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma wrote to DGP Rajasthan to look into the matter and conduct an inquiry into the allegation with Action Taken Report (ATR) apprised to the NCW.
The NCW (@NCWIndia) replied to Social News XYZ’s (@SocialNewsXYZ) tweet and said, “@NCWIndia has taken cognisance. Chairperson @sharmarekha has written to DGP Rajasthan to personally look into the matter and conduct an inquiry into allegations of mistreatment and assault levelled by the women against police officials. Detailed ATR must be apprised to NCW.”
Reportedly, on March 8, one of the widows wrote to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot alleging that Rajasthan Police officials assaulted her, stripped her clothes, pricked her with a pin and threw her like a gunny bag when she was going to meet him.
She said, “Unable to bear the torture by the police, I am on an infinite hunger strike since March 4 and the Chief Minister will be responsible if something happens to me.”
@NCWIndia has taken cognizance. Chairperson @sharmarekha has written to DGP Rajasthan to personally look into the matter and conduct an inquiry into allegations of mistreatment and assault levelled by the women against police officials. Detailed ATR must be apprised to NCW. https://t.co/NjE89AnoOF
— NCW (@NCWIndia) March 9, 2023
The Pulwama martyrs’ widows were protesting for relaxation in rules for Government job appointment of family members of those who lost their lives in the terror attack. On March 6, Congress’s Rajasthan MLA Sachin Pilot wrote to CM Ashok Gehlot where he told CM Ashok Gehlot that he met with the protesting widows and heard their demands.
He said that the widows had requested relaxation in rules for government job appointment of family members of martyrs and investigation of ill-treatment meted out by the police, among other demands. Furthermore, he urged CM Ashok Gehlot to consider their demands and take necessary action sympathetically.
However, on March 7, CM Ashok Gehlot tweeted his rejection of the widows’ demands with a statement in Hindi. Then, on March 9, he tweeted a translated version and said, “How can we justify giving job to any other relative by trampling upon the rights of the children of the martyr? What will happen to the children of the martyr when they grow up? Is it appropriate to trample upon their rights?”
How can we justify giving job to any other relative by trampling upon the rights of the children of the martyr?
What will happen to the children of the martyr when they grow up?
Is it appropriate to trample upon their rights? pic.twitter.com/49Kio82KlX
— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) March 9, 2023
Furthermore, he said, “If job is given to the brother of martyr Sh Lamba, then in future the family members and relatives of all the widows may exert inappropriate social and family pressure to give job to other relatives while depriving the children of the martyr of their right to job.”
Meanwhile, Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra wrote to CM Ashok Gehlot, asking him to look into the matter and take appropriate action. Furthermore, he said that the widows wrote to him seeking permission for euthanasia.
Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat tweeted, “Martyr Rohitash Lamba ji’s widow Mrs Manju Jat has told in a letter to the CM that the police beat her, stripped her clothes, and pricked her with a pin. At the same time, instead of taking necessary steps, the CM is issuing statements on Twitter to blame the widow,” along with Manju Jat’s video. He added, “Accepting its mistake, the Government should break the fast of the widow. Gehlot ji, this dictatorship will not work!”
शहीद रोहिताश लंबा जी की वीरांगना श्रीमती मंजू जाट ने सीएम को लिखे पत्र में बताया है कि पुलिस ने उन्हें पीटा, कपड़े उतारे और आलपिन चुभाई।
वहीं सीएम साहब जरूरी कदम उठाने के बजाय ट्विटर में वीरांगना को गलत ठहराने के बयान जारी कर रहे हैं।#नहीं_संभलता_तो_छोड़_दो pic.twitter.com/RlLVLpftys
— Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (@gssjodhpur) March 8, 2023
BJP Rajya Sabha MP Kirodi Lal Meena, sitting with the Pulwama martyrs’ widows, has urged CM Ashok Gehlot to take a positive stand on their demands. She said, “On March 7, two ministers — Pratap Singh Khachariawas and Shankuntala Rawat — came to meet the protesting women. Both listened to their demands and assured to solve the issue. It was expected that there would be an announcement from the state government on March 8 accepting their demands, but nothing happened. Instead, the Chief Minister is raising questions over the demands of these widows despite two of his own ministers assuring to solve the matter.”
