Last week a very disturbing event took place at a mass marriage ceremony at Betul. The ceremony was under the Kanyadaan Yojna run by the Madhya Pradesh State government led by BJP. Previously too there has been a lot of wrong doings in this program and a large number of social organisations and social activists have raised their voice against it. However the recent development in Betul has crossed all limits of shameful behaviour by any government.
On 7th June 2013, during the Kanyadaan Yojna at Betul where the majority of the couples belonged to the economically backward Adivasi community. In this ceremony more than 400 brides had to undertake virginity test and some were declared pregnant. They were publicly "disqualified" from participating in the marriage ceremony. While this uncivilised act was carried out, there were ministers, ex-ministers, top government officials present on the stage as guests. Nobody uttered a single word of protest while the tribal women were being humiliated in full public glare. Their only fault was they are poor and are adivasis. It was only after the act was reported in the media, that the Collector ordered a probe whose result will come in 7 days. Pressure was also created by Congress leaders and workers and social activists.
For a state where crime against women is the highest, this incidence brings forward a new all time low in the status of women. The Chief Minister constantly can be seen on billboards holding girl child and talking about how girls and women are his prorities, but when such shameful incidences take place he is absolutely mum about it.
In today's world where we are talking about development and equality in all spheres such acts are a blot on the society. It shows the regressive mindset of the BJP leaders and draconian attitude towards the poor. One of the leaders who was present there is an ex minister who a few months back was removed due to his publicly demeaning words spoken against women.
I as a women and a Congressman take serious offence to this act and demand that not only the people who gave the orders to carry out such dastardly act to be severely punished, but also he should put billboards where he publicly seeks forgiveness from all women. I also through this platform want to urge today's youth especially girls to be aware of such acts of the BJP government. We are all free to have different political ideologies but we cannot condone such an act. Women from BJP should also come out and condone this act vociferously.
On 7th June 2013, during the Kanyadaan Yojna at Betul where the majority of the couples belonged to the economically backward Adivasi community. In this ceremony more than 400 brides had to undertake virginity test and some were declared pregnant. They were publicly "disqualified" from participating in the marriage ceremony. While this uncivilised act was carried out, there were ministers, ex-ministers, top government officials present on the stage as guests. Nobody uttered a single word of protest while the tribal women were being humiliated in full public glare. Their only fault was they are poor and are adivasis. It was only after the act was reported in the media, that the Collector ordered a probe whose result will come in 7 days. Pressure was also created by Congress leaders and workers and social activists.
For a state where crime against women is the highest, this incidence brings forward a new all time low in the status of women. The Chief Minister constantly can be seen on billboards holding girl child and talking about how girls and women are his prorities, but when such shameful incidences take place he is absolutely mum about it.
In today's world where we are talking about development and equality in all spheres such acts are a blot on the society. It shows the regressive mindset of the BJP leaders and draconian attitude towards the poor. One of the leaders who was present there is an ex minister who a few months back was removed due to his publicly demeaning words spoken against women.
I as a women and a Congressman take serious offence to this act and demand that not only the people who gave the orders to carry out such dastardly act to be severely punished, but also he should put billboards where he publicly seeks forgiveness from all women. I also through this platform want to urge today's youth especially girls to be aware of such acts of the BJP government. We are all free to have different political ideologies but we cannot condone such an act. Women from BJP should also come out and condone this act vociferously.
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