Women’s Rally in City Backs Women’s Reservation Bill with Strong Support
Marking a strong show of support for women’s political empowerment, around 100 women riders took to the streets of the city on Thursday in an all-women motorcycle and scooter rally backing the Women’s Reservation Bill.
The participants expressed solidarity with the proposed legislation, which seeks to provide 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies under the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.
Ahead of the rally, the women also conducted a signature campaign at the venue, calling for the early passage of the Bill in Parliament.
Organised by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party, Telugu Desam Party, and Jana Sena Party, the rally started from the LIC Building near the Ambedkar statue. It passed through Akkayyapalem and the Gurudwara area before concluding at the starting point.
Former GVMC corporator and international badminton player Usha Sree Peddisetty said women in Visakhapatnam had come together with a united voice. “All of us are expressing solidarity for the passage of the Bill. We are moving ahead with the spirit of ‘Jai Ho Naari Shakti,” she said.
Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha State spokesperson Sanjana Sai said women’s representation in politics remains low at around 14–15 per cent and needs to increase. She said the initiative would encourage greater participation of women in public life and reflect their growing financial independence.
Lecturer and BJYM member Sri Navya termed the move a significant milestone. “This is a major step by the government that brings a long-pending demand closer to reality. The world is watching India,” she said.
TDP ward president Sri Lakshmi from Seethammadara said women had waited for years for such a measure to take shape and welcomed its introduction.