As the Centre celebrated the 10th anniversary of its flagship programme, ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge launched a scathing attack on the BJP, accusing it of prioritising the protection of criminals over safeguarding women, reports The Hindu.
In a strongly worded post on X, Mr. Kharge questioned the ruling party’s commitment to women’s safety.
“Why has the BJP adopted the policy of ‘save the criminals’ instead of ‘save the daughters’? When will justice be served to the women of Manipur? Why has the BJP consistently protected criminals in cases involving the Dalit daughter of Hathras, the daughter of Unnao, or our champion female wrestler?” he asked.
Mr. Kharge highlighted the alarming frequency of crimes against women in India, citing data that reveals 43 crimes against women occur every hour. He also pointed out that 22 daily cases are registered involving women and children from vulnerable Dalit and tribal communities.
Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of failing to live up to his promises, he said, “Despite Modi ji repeatedly talking about women’s safety in his speeches from the Red Fort, there is a stark difference between his words and actions.”
Mr. Kharge further alleged mismanagement of funds allocated to the scheme, stating that until 2019, nearly 80% of the funds were spent on media advertising.
“When this was exposed by the Parliamentary Standing Committee, funding for the scheme was slashed by 63% between 2018-19 and 2022-23. Subsequently, the scheme was merged with ‘Sambal’ under ‘Mission Shakti,’ and the government stopped providing data on the funds spent on ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao,’” he claimed.
He questioned whether merely painting “Beti Bachao” slogans on trucks or walls had improved women’s safety, employment opportunities, healthcare, or access to justice.
“The BJP’s empty rhetoric of ‘enough of attacks on women’ after a decade of inaction reflects their hypocrisy,” he added.
Launched by Prime Minister Modi on January 22, 2015, in Panipat, Haryana, the programme aimed to address the declining child sex ratio and promote women’s empowerment. Despite its ambitious goals, the scheme has faced criticism over its implementation and alleged lack of tangible impact.
As the debate intensifies, the Congress has challenged the government to provide accountability and take concrete steps to ensure justice and safety for women across the country.
