Kharge accuses BJP of adopting save the criminals’ policy in Unnao and Hathras
As the government’s ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ (BP) initiative marked its 10th anniversary, the Congress on Wednesday accused the BJP of hypocrisy, questioning why the ruling party has allegedly prioritized “saving criminals” over “saving daughters.”
Launched on January 22, 2015, in Panipat, Haryana, BP was introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and promote women’s empowerment across various stages of life. However, the Congress criticized its implementation, pointing out several shortcomings.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge raised sharp questions for Prime Minister Modi. “After 10 years of ‘Beti Bachao,’ we have three questions for Modi ji: Why has the BJP adopted a policy of ‘save the criminals’ instead of ‘save the daughters’? When will the women of Manipur get justice? Whether it’s the Dalit daughter of Hathras, the daughter of Unnao, or our champion female wrestler, why has the BJP consistently shielded criminals?” Kharge asked.
Kharge also cited alarming statistics, stating, “Forty-three crimes against women are recorded every hour in India. Daily, 22 crimes are reported against women and children belonging to the vulnerable Dalit and tribal communities. Despite the prime minister repeatedly talking about women’s safety, including in speeches from the Red Fort, why is there such a wide gap between his words and actions?”
Criticizing the allocation of funds under BP, Kharge alleged that, until 2019, nearly 80% of the total budget for the scheme was spent on media advertisements. He added, “When this was exposed by the Parliamentary Standing Committee, the budget for the scheme was cut by 63% between 2018-19 and 2022-23. Later, the government merged BBBP with another scheme, ‘Sambal,’ under ‘Mission Shakti,’ and stopped providing data on BBBP expenditures.”
He further alleged a 30% reduction in funds allocated for ‘Sambal’ in 2023-24, questioning the government’s motive behind what he termed a “manipulation” of data. “What does the government want to hide with such tactics?” Kharge asked.
He mocked the BJP’s symbolic measures, saying, “Will slogans like ‘Beti Bachao’ painted on trucks and walls stop crimes against women, create job opportunities, improve healthcare for women, or deliver justice to victims of atrocities?”
Accusing the BJP of hollow propaganda, Kharge said the party’s campaign, “Enough of attacks on women,” rings hollow after a decade of unmet promises.