"Men never allowed women to progress in society...": Farooq Abdullah

Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], March 8 : Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) president Farooq Abdullah said on Friday that men never allowed women to progress in society, adding that both men and women have to be given equal opportunities for the betterment of the nation.
Farooq Abdullah attended a party function on International Women's Day in Jammu's Bishnah.
Addressing the party workers, Farooq Abdullah said, "Why is this day being celebrated today? It is because men never allowed women to progress. This is the truth. They always restricted them to domestic chores. Many women face domestic violence but opt to remain silent as they want to protect the dignity of their house."
Asserting that a man alone cannot run his house in current times due to the rising prices of essential commodities, Farooq said, "Look at the prices of vegetables and gas, dal. Till the time women do not join the workforce, a man cannot run his house alone. There will always be issues in the family."
He further appealed to National Conference workers to encourage women candidates for the ensuing panchayat polls in the Union Territory.
"Women's participation should be encouraged in upcoming panchayat elections. Prepare those women for the upcoming elections who can work for society, and who can listen to issues of public. We want both men and women to have equal opportunities," he said.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings on International Women's Day.
He has also saluted the strength, courage, and resilience of Nari Shakti and lauded their accomplishments across various fields.
"Greetings on International Women's Day! We salute the strength, courage, and resilience of our Nari Shakti and laud their accomplishments across various fields. Our government is committed to empowering women through initiatives in education, entrepreneurship, agriculture, technology and more. This is also reflected in our accomplishments in the last decade," PM Modi posted on X.
This year, International Women's Day is celebrated under the theme "Invest in women: Accelerate progress".