1. On International Women’s Day, Congress’s Jairam Ramesh posed critical questions to PM Modi.
2. Ramesh highlighted the dire situation in Manipur, terming it a “virtual civil war.”
3. The Congress leader’s inquiries addressed significant women’s issues across India.
New Delhi, March 08: As the world celebrates International Women’s Day today, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has directed pointed questions at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing critical issues concerning women across India.
Jairam Ramesh, Congress’s general secretary in charge of communications, began by shedding light on the dire situation in Manipur, a state gripped by what he described as a “virtual civil war” for over a year.
He raised concerns over videos depicting women being assaulted and paraded naked in Manipur, a state under the dual governance of the BJP, both at the state and central levels. Ramesh questioned why the Prime Minister hadn’t visited the state to address these alarming incidents.
Ramesh also questioned Modi’s silence regarding allegations of sexual harassment levelled against BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh by women wrestlers.
He queried Modi’s stance on the issue and whether Singh is considered a member of ‘Modi ka Parivar,’ referring to BJP’s aggressive counter-campaign against remarks made by RJD supremo Lalu Prasad.
Furthermore, Ramesh accused the Modi government of neglecting the escalating prices of essential commodities and demanded clarity on the Prime Minister’s strategy to mitigate the financial strain on households.
Also Read: PM Modi Slashes LPG Prices by Rs 100 on Women’s Day
He highlighted the surge in food and essential item prices, questioning whether the Prime Minister has a concrete plan to shield households from the impact of inflation.
Terming Modi’s governance as an ‘era of injustice,’ Ramesh expressed concerns about the declining participation of women in the labor force, which is currently 20% lower than during Dr. Manmohan Singh’s tenure.
He asked if the Prime Minister has strategies to reintegrate women into the economic mainstream and address the rising unemployment rate among female job seekers.
Ramesh also cast doubt on the effectiveness of the “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” Yojana, alleging that a significant portion of its budget is allocated to advertisements rather than meaningful initiatives to combat female infanticide and promote female education.
It is International Women’s Day today. We don’t expect the Prime Minister to do anything beyond paying salutary tributes to women. Nevertheless, here are some key questions that women across the country are asking him:
1. Manipur has been in a state of virtual civil war since…
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) March 8, 2024
He questioned whether the Prime Minister has a more substantive vision to combat female infanticide and enhance women’s education, or if these issues are merely opportunities for self-promotion through advertisements.
Ramesh asserted that the women of India demand and deserve answers, urging them to remove the BJP from power and save the daughters of the nation.
