Chennai, August , 2024— Apsara Reddy, spokesperson of AIADMK, together with various women’s organizations, members of the Indian Army, and business leaders, organized a candlelight vigil at Besant Nagar Elliot’s Beach today in memory of the recent Kolkata rape victim and to honor the many survivors of sexual violence in Tamil Nadu. The event was a poignant show of solidarity, with over 400 people gathering peacefully to support the cause.
Among those in attendance were members of ‘The Good Deeds Club’, Rotary, medical professionals from various hospitals, and concerned members of the public. The vigil underscored a collective commitment to addressing the serious issues of gender-based violence and ensuring justice for survivors.
During the event, Apsara Reddy emphasized the importance of stronger protections for vulnerable groups and called for unity across political and social divides to confront the issue. “We must put an end to this culture of violence against women and children. It is imperative that all leaders, regardless of political affiliations, come together to eradicate these heinous acts, especially those targeting children. This is a crisis that affects us all, and it is happening in broad daylight. The law must be upheld with the utmost seriousness, and justice must be served swiftly,” she said.
The vigil concluded with a call to action, urging communities and leaders alike to work together in creating a safer environment for all. Apsara further added, “All state governments must set up ‘Women’s Protection Force’ that will be activated whenever a toll-free number is called. When police stations are over burdened with other crimes, we need a team of tech-savvy and highly skilled men and women officers who can reach a crisis spot or a complaint area within minutes. Often police say it’s not in our jurisdiction when distress calls come in,”
Participants left with a renewed commitment to advocate for the rights of survivors and to push for meaningful change in the fight against gender injustice.
