The second day of the 11th National Conference of All India Democratic Women’s Association started with loud slogans and cheering when the president of AIDWA Malini Bhattacharya hoisted the AIDWA flag at Shyamali Gupta Nagar (Oriental College), Bhopal.
Over 800 delegates from about twenty states saluted the martyrs and marked the beginning of the organisational sessions of the Conference. The Presidium, including the office bearers of the organization, took their positions and the President invited the chief guests Mukta Dhabolkar (Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti) and Radhika Vemula on the dais. Brinda Karat, the patron of the organisation was the key note speaker. The conference was also addressed by Rajesh Joshi, poet and Chairperson of the Reception Committee for the 11th Conference.
Mukta Dhabolkar gave an inspiring inaugural speech where she showed the connection between her own struggles and those of the activists of AIDWA. She emphatically countered the claims of right wing nationalists by stating that the daily struggles of women activists for the rights of their sisters was the ultimate form of ‘desh bhakti’ as it helped them to live a decent life of dignity. On the other hand the irrational fake nationalism of organisations like the RSS brought more harm and divisiveness in the society. In the end she called upon all democratic and left organisations to unite against the current communal and rightwing dispensation.
Brinda Karat in her inaugural address recalled the traditions of struggle and sacrifices made by the founders of AIDWA. She said that AIDWA and placed the key issues that need to be deliberated in the conference.
She asked the Conference to take into account the challenges posed by the neo-liberal communal political ruling class, whose actions were against the Constitution of the country.
The urgent need was to build a united platform and take up the issues of historically deprived groups like minorities, Dalits and adivasis who the Sangh Parivar was trying to incorporate within its fold, she added.