By Agartala Correspondent | Tripura 24.in AGARTALA | March 12, 2026
AGARTALA: Marking the 40th Foundation Day of the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), the Dukli Sub-Division Committee organized a series of commemorative and protest programs at Badharghat Chowmuhani today. The event blended the celebration of the organization’s four-decade-long struggle for women’s rights with an intense demonstration against the rising cost of essential fuels.
The program commenced with the ceremonial hoisting of the organizational flag by local leaders, followed by a mass sit-in (Gana-Abusthan) that drew hundreds of women protesters.
Commemorating 40 Years of Resistance
Founded on March 12, 1981, AIDWA has grown into India’s largest women’s organization. Today’s event in Badharghat served as a reminder of the organization’s commitment to the goals of Equality, Democracy, and Women’s Emancipation.
The meeting was presided over by Minati Majumdar, President of the Dukli Sub-Division Committee, who paid tribute to the martyrs and pioneers of the women’s movement in Tripura.
Protest Against “Anti-People” Price Hikes
The highlight of the gathering was a fierce protest against the recent surge in the prices of Domestic LPG (Cooking Gas), CNG, and PNG.
Keynote Speakers at the Rally:
- Jharna Das Baidya (National Leader & Former MP): In her address, she lashed out at the central government for its “assault on the kitchen.” She noted that the ₹60 hike in gas cylinders has hit the average homemaker the hardest. “The government is indifferent to the tears of women struggling to manage the hearth. This foundation day is a day of pledge to fight these exploitative policies until they are rolled back,” Baidya asserted.
- Nilanjana Roy (National Leader, CITU): Emphasizing the link between fuel prices and overall inflation, Roy argued that the hike in CNG and PNG rates is a deliberate attempt to squeeze the working class. She also criticized the Modi government’s “surrender” to imperialist economic interests over the welfare of Indian citizens.
Mass Sit-In at Badharghat Chowmuhani
The Gana-Abusthan (Mass Sit-In) saw women holding placards and raising slogans against the “corporate-communal nexus” they claim is driving the price hikes. The protesters demanded the immediate restoration of fuel subsidies and a freeze on the prices of essential commodities.
The atmosphere at Badharghat remained charged throughout the afternoon as leaders called for a unified struggle of women, workers, and peasants against the current economic regime.
Looking Ahead
The Dukli Committee announced that today’s program is part of a statewide series of agitations. They urged women across Tripura to join the “Halla Bol” campaign scheduled for next week to further pressure the administration.
