'Beti Bachao' was not a campaign but a warning to save girl children from BJP goons: Randeep Surjewala

The AICC spokesperson accused the BJP of protecting perpetrators of the Unnao and Kathua incidents.
Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala (File | PTI)
Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala (File | PTI)

BENGALURU: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's famous "Beti Bachao" slogan was a warning and not a campaign for the girl child, the Congress alleged on Thursday. Speaking to the media in Bengaluru, All India Congress Committee (AICC) spokesperson Randeep Surjewala accused the BJP of protecting perpetrators of the Unnao and Kathua incidents. This even as questions are being raised about AICC President Rahul Gandhi's silence over the Kathua gangrape and murder. 

"When Narendra Modi said Beti Bachao, little did the country know that it was a warning, not a campaign slogan. The BJP was asking the people of this country to save their girl children from their goons," Surjewala said. Taking a jibe at the ruling BJP, led by Modi, staging a day-long satyagraha across the country, Surjewala questioned if the BJP would fast for the safety of girls. 

While he demanded justice, compensation and rehabilitation for the Kathua victim's family, Surjewala refused to comment on AICC President Rahul Gandhi's silence over the matter especially when he has been outraging over the Unnao incident. He instead chose to state that rapists did not belong to any religion, caste or community and needed to be dealt with the law, not lienency. 

While about 325 MPs of the NDA observed a day-long fast across the country, the Congress deemed it a "farcist fast of a fascist government". Surjewala alleged that BJP had used its proxy allies (TDP and AIADMK members who protested continuously in the parliament) to limit parliament's legislative business to 1 per cent in Lok Sabha with 19 minutes of functioning and 6 per cent in Rajya Sabha with 3 minutes of functioning. "The BJP is a habitual offender. When in the opposition between 2009 and 2014, it stalled 66.8 per cent of parliament sessions," he said.

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