Men’s Activists To Burn Underwear In Protest Against Congress Party’s Promises To Women
Pune, 24th April 2024: Men’s activists are set to burn their underwear to denounce the Congress Party’s proposed initiatives aimed at providing financial incentives and freebies exclusively to women. Spearheaded by the Save Indian Family Foundation (SIFF), a 19-year-old men’s rights organization headquartered in Bangalore, the campaign is a response to what activists perceive as discriminatory practices against men in Indian politics.
SIFF has long campaigned for reforms to address what they see as biased laws against men in India. With chapters spanning across major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Lucknow, and Bhubaneswar, SIFF has garnered significant attention for its advocacy work.
Amidst the ongoing election season, SIFF has issued a call to action, urging men to burn their underwear as a symbolic gesture of protest against political parties’ promises of freebies exclusively to women. Hundreds of men have already taken up the call, igniting their undergarments in protest. The half-burnt underwear will be collected and sent to the Congress Party headquarters, where it will be assembled into a symbolic “Women’s Empowerment” flag.
Rajesh Vakharia, President of SIFF, has voiced concerns over what he perceives as discriminatory policies that marginalize men. He warns against the potential consequences of such policies, particularly highlighting the risk of creating a growing population of “incels” (involuntary celibates) among young men, who may feel disenfranchised in a society that prioritizes women’s welfare over men’s.
The activists also criticize Article 15 of the Indian Constitution, which they argue is being used to justify discrimination against men. Anil Murty, Co-Founder of SIFF, describes Article 15 as a “terrorist article” that enables politicians to enact policies that discriminate against men with impunity.
Furthermore, the activists condemn the introduction of “Section 69 of Bharatya Nyay Sanhita” (BNS 69) by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which they dub as a “Terrorism Law of Live-in Relationship.” This law allows girlfriends to file rape charges against their boyfriends if they refuse to marry them or if they break up, potentially leading to severe consequences for men.
SIFF’s demands include amendments to Article 15 to end discrimination against men, the repeal of BNS 69, and an end to the practice of political parties offering freebies to women at the expense of men. They also call for greater acknowledgment of male suicides due to family reasons in political manifestos and an end to using gender as a divisive tool in electoral politics.
With men’s activists taking to the streets in various cities across India, the campaign signals a growing movement demanding equality and fair treatment for men in Indian society and politics.
