SRINAGAR: After picture of woman separatist leader and Dukhtarani Millat (DeM) chief, Syeda Asiya Andrabi, figured in the list of women achievers of the world in 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' campaign of J&K government’s child care department in south Kashmir, the PDP-BJP coalition government on Thursday suspended the Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) and ordered inquiry against her for misconduct.
The banner of Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) Project Breng highlighting the women achievers of the world was hoisted during a tourism festival at Kokernag in south Kashmir yesterday to promote the government’s 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' (Save Girl Educate Girl) programme.
The banner carried pictures of 12 women achievers of the world including J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, slain astronaut Kalpana Chawla, former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, former IPS officer and Lt Governor of Puducherry Kiran Bedi, tennis star Sania Mirza, playback singer Lata Mangeshkar and Mother Teresa.
Asiya Andrabi, who is the pro-Pakistan woman separatist leader and favours state’s merger with Pakistan, figured at No 5 in the list of 12 women achievers. The former PM Indira Gandhi figured in 7th and Lata Mangeshkhar 12th No in the list.
55-year-old Asiya is presently facing detention under infamous Public Safety Act (PSA). She is married to separatist leader, Qasim Hussain Faktoo, who is serving life imprisonment and completed 23 years in jail.
The function, where the banner carrying Asiya Andrabi’s picture was displayed, was attended by MoS for Forest Zahoor Ahmad Mir, PDP MLAs Abdul Raheem Rather and top civil and police officials yesterday.
The episode was seen as a major embarrassment for the PDP-BJP coalition government in the State.
The BJP took strong exception to Asiya’s mention in the name of women achievers of the world.
“Our party demands an inquiry and suspension of officials involved in carrying the picture of separatist leader Asiya Andrabi's on banners on ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ campaign,” BJP chief spokesman Sunil Sethi said.
, J&K Social Welfare Department Minister and separatist-turned-mainstream politician Sajjad Gani Lone said the officer (CDPO) responsible for the goof-up has been placed under suspension.
He said an inquiry has been ordered against her for the misconduct.
Sajad said the publicity wing of the department works in decentralized format and CDPO’s devise their own publicity campaign, which doesn’t require approval of the higher authorities.
“The CDPO has committed a grievous error of judgement by including Asiya Andrabi in the list of distinguished women achievers of the country,” he said.
“In any case, the department unambiguously states that Asiya Andrabi is not a role model neither for the women of Jammu and Kashmir nor elsewhere in the world,” the minister said adding, “She at best is an aberration, representing the aimless fringe afflicting societies across the world.”