Mahila Congress to lead Shimla protest, demands BJP MLA's arrest and enhanced women's safety

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], August 26 : The Mahila Congress is set to hold a protest in Shimla to highlight three major demands concerning women's issues.
The protest will coincide with the first day of the monsoon session of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, during which Mahila Congress members will march to the Assembly, pressing their own government to arrest a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA over an alleged molestation case involving a girl in Chamba district.
On Monday, All India Mahila Congress Chief Alka Lamba held a meeting with the state executive of the Himachal Pradesh Mahila Congress in Shimla.
During the meeting, resolutions were passed addressing three critical demands as part of the "Mahila Nyaya Andolan," a movement for women's justice.
Speaking to the media in Shimla, Alka Lamba said, "We held an executive committee meeting of the Mahila Congress, and we are going to restructure the executive bodies of the Mahila Congress. We are launching the 'Nari Nyay Andolan' from tomorrow, starting with a protest in the state. I am thankful to the state government for initiating a 1,500-rupee honorarium for women, despite the lack of support from the Union government during disasters."
She emphasised the need for women's safety and security across the country, citing several high-profile cases.
"We want the safety and security of women in the country, whether in cases like the rape and murder of a doctor or the molestation of a young girl in Maharashtra. The BJP has been protecting individuals like Braj Bhushan Saran Singh in the Ankita Bhandari case, Prajjwal Rawanna, and many others."
Lamba expressed her gratitude to the Himachal Pradesh government for filing an FIR against BJP MLA Hansraj, saying, "We have passed a resolution in the Mahila Congress meeting to march to the Vidhan Sabha in Himachal Pradesh and demand the arrest of the BJP MLA. We want safety and security for women in the state."
She criticised the BJP and MLA Hansraj for attempting to downplay the issue as a "family and party matter," asserting, "This is not a family matter; it is an issue of women's safety and security. We have resolved that our women representatives will push for reservations for women."
As part of the "Nari Nyay Andolan," the Mahila Congress plans to meet with state governors across India to press for their demands.
Lamba also highlighted the lack of a Mahila Aayog (Women's Commission) in the state and called for the establishment of Mahila Thanas (women police stations) in all 68 assembly constituencies in Himachal Pradesh.
"So far, there has been no Mahila Aayog constituted in the state. We shall also demand that the state government build Mahila Thanas in all 68 assembly constituencies in Himachal Pradesh," she said.