New Delhi: A day after Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi called women India’s “greatest asset”, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National General Secretary Smriti Irani, without taking names, asked the former to support the implementation of the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’ and also allow the rendition of full version of the national song Vande Mataram as it contains the proclamation of Hindu goddesses.
Irani made the remarks while leaving after attending the second day of meeting, chaired by BJP President Nitin Nabin, of the party’s newly appointed office bearers, state in-charges and state presidents.
Speaking at the ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ event in Pune on Saturday, Rahul Gandhi said that women are the greatest strength of the nation. He asserted that they do not belong to anyone but themselves and urged young women to “break the cage”.
Moreover, the Congress leader launched a sharp critique on patriarchal frameworks, saying that keeping women dependent is part of the “Manusmriti mindset”.
Speaking to reporters, Smriti Irani said: “Prime Minister Modi has introduced a proposal and passed a law to provide 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies, enhancing the representation and dignity of women in the country’s Legislature. Prime Minister Modi has also appealed to all political parties to support the swift implementation of women’s reservation across the country. Therefore, since a key Congress leader has spoken about supporting women and women’s leadership, I would humbly request him to support the Prime Minister’s mission to ensure that the law is implemented expeditiously.”
The BJP leader said: “I know that during yesterday’s programme of the concerned Congress leader, statements were made regarding the Hindu religion…we (Hindus) worship Goddesses Bhagavathi, Lakshmi and Saraswati.”
“Therefore, since he (Rahul Gandhi) invoked religion, I am making another request to that prominent leader. In ‘Vande Mataram’, the verses that were stopped at the Congress headquarters contain the mention of Maa Durga—whom we worship as the focal point of divine power (‘Shakti’). The proclamation of that Maa Durga, and the complete rendition of ‘Vande Mataram’ should take place at the Congress headquarters,” Irani added.
The BJP leader said that by doing both of these, “the said Congress leader” (referring to Rahul Gandhi) will be able to “give shape to his words” in favour of women.
A controversy erupted following the conduct of senior Congress leaders during the rendition of the national song at the Congress headquarters on Independence Day and the Congress Working Committee’s (CWC) decision to continue restricting its rendition at party programmes to only the first two stanzas.
Regarding the CWC’s resolution, Irani also said: “A political party cannot be greater than the nation’s Parliament. A statement by a political party is not greater than the nation’s Parliament.”
(IANS)
