Flagging concerns about militancy and the spread of the drugs menace in Kashmir again, the Indian Army’s Chinar Corps commander, Lt Gen. D.P. Pandey on Tuesday urged women to boldly come out of their homes to save their husbands, brothers and sons from pursuing this path of self-destruction, and or getting killed by security forces.Addressing an International Women’s Day seminar on the theme “Reclaiming the Voice, Breaking the Bias” at the Chinar Corps headquarters here, Lt Gen. Pandey said: “Women are the backbone and pillar of any strong society. They play a very dynamic role in shaping the home, the society and, therefore, a nation’s destiny. She is the foundation on which a great country like ours has been built and has to be built in the future.”“You, the women of Kashmir, are endowed with a huge strength, you have persevered this entire 70 years, actually it is 30 years, in this atmosphere and environment of absolute recklessness, lawlessness, terrorism, but I am sure, if you want, you can turnaround the situation in Kashmir,” he added to which there was a lot of clapping and a resounding applause.Lt Gen Pandey, however, stressed that while winds of change are taking place in Kashmir, with mothers asking their daughters to study and get into business, pursue a career, or a profession, they must not only blame the men for the malaise and ills that exist in the society.“I see the changes, but I think it is very important that everybody who has come here has blamed the men. I think the women are also to be equally to blame for the conditions that are there. As a mother, sister and wife, you need to train your men, your sons, to respect the woman, he said.
