As the globe commemorates International Women's Day, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh issued a stern message directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking critical questions about women's issues in India. Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary in charge of communications, began by emphasising the dreadful situation in Manipur, which has been afflicted by what he calls a "virtual civil war" for more than a year.
Taking to X, Ramesh questioned: “Videos have emerged of women being assaulted and paraded naked - in a state that is experiencing a double-Anyay regime of BJP in the State and the Centre. Why has the Prime Minister not even bothered to visit the state?”
Ramesh also questioned Modi's silence on claims of sexual harassment by female wrestlers against BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
"What is the Prime Minister's stance on this issue?" Does Modi consider Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh a member of ‘Modi ka Parivar?’" Ramesh tweeted on X, referring to the BJP's robust push to counter RJD supremo Lalu Prasad's remark against Prime Minister Modi.
Ramesh also slammed the Modi government of failing to address rising commodity costs and asked clarification on the Prime Minister's strategy to reduce the burden on people.
“Modi hain to mehengai hain! There has been rapid rise in the prices of food and essential items. Does the Prime Minister have a plan to shield households from the brunt of this price rise?” he asked.
Ramesh referred to Modi's government as the 'Anyay kaal' (period of injustice) and expressed worry about the impact of the increasing unemployment rate on female job seekers.
“The percentage of women in the labor force is now 20% lower than it was under Dr Manmohan Singh - a trend that can undermine the economy’s long term potential. Does the Prime Minister have a solution to bring women back into the economic mainstream?” he added.
The Congress leader also questioned the effectiveness of the "Beti Bachao Beti Padhao" Yojana, claiming that a large percentage of its funding is spent on ads rather than serious programs to combat female infanticide and encourage education.
“Does the Prime Minister have a more meaningful vision to stop female infanticide and promote women’s education? Or is the issue just another opportunity to slap his face on an advertisement and give him another means for branding himself?” he said.