Mahila Congress demands ban on apps objectifying women
Panjim: The Goa Pradesh Mahila Congress has raised an alarm over mobile apps and websites that insult the dignity of women by facilitating escort services, calling for an immediate ban on such platforms.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Shilpi Arora, National General Secretary of the All India Mahila Congress (AIMC) and In-charge of Goa, criticized the government’s priorities. While IT Minister Rohan Khaunte recently proposed banning social media for children under 16, Arora said that the government must first regulate harmful social media content.
“The government’s silence on such advertisements reflects its double standards and anti-women mindset,” Arora stated.
Also in attendance were AIMC Co-Incharge and National Secretary Prajyoti Chandrakant Handore, Goa Pradesh Mahila Congress President Pratiksha Khalap, and General Secretary Shabnam Khan.
Arora slammed the state government for failures regarding women’s safety, drug proliferation, environmental destruction, and unemployment.
“In 14 years, Goa has gone 140 years backward in terms of development. Goa was once known for its beauty and serenity. But it is now run by drug mafia, land mafia and the casino mafia. Drugs are being sold in Goa. 240 kg drugs are seized every month. Womens’ safety has degraded to such an extent that Goan women fear moving out at night. 20 years back, women could even go to the beach at night safely. Policing is down and there is no fear among criminals of the law,” Arora said.
She further said that hotel bookings have dropped by 20%, and unemployment sits at 8%. “If BJP cannot run the government, then let someone else run it. If the CM’s image is linked to corruption, sale of land and forests, he has no right to continue, he must resign,” she added.
Displaying an advertisement that objectifies women, Khalap argued that restricting social media for minors is ineffective since children can access devices belonging to older relatives. She announced plans to submit a list of offensive apps and websites to the police.
“There are many websites and apps which are running escort services and even offering services of speaking to women for Rs 1. Why is there no restriction on such content? There are so many such apps which are indulging in objectification of Goan women,” Khalap said. “In the name of tourism, there is drug trade and prostitution, hence quality tourists are not coming and a lot of crime is taking place.”
Khalap also supported Chimbel protesters against the Unity Mall and Prashashan Stamb projects, alleging they are fronts for real estate exploitation.
“There is a big foul play in these projects. There is a lot of land around this site. They want to sell the land around for real estate. The government has no business building malls. They sold Mopa for a casino city and now they want to make Goa another Las Vegas with casinos everywhere. Drugs and prostitution are a byproduct of casinos. Instead of promoting waterfalls, biodiversity and beaches, the government is now known as a real estate agent,” she said.
Additionally, she cited the recent arrest of a Russian serial killer as evidence of a failed security system. “What security system does the state government have to know who is living next to my house? There is no verification of persons. Robberies are taking place. This is destroying Goan tourism.”
Looking toward the 2027 assembly elections, Handore stated that the party is focusing on organizational building across all 1,731 booths in Goa.
“Mahila Congress will reach all 1,731 booths in Goa and prepare women politically and organizationally for the next elections. We are also reaching out to women to empower them through distribution of sanitary pads. We have a plant in Bihar and Delhi for making sanitary pads and we plan to have one in Goa as well to make women self-employed,” Handore said.
Khalap said the Goa unit will urge party leadership to reserve 33% of candidate tickets for women in the upcoming 2027 polls.
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