Remember Naina Sahni murder case: MoS Harsh Malhotra slams Cong over ‘Shakti Abhiyan’

New Delhi, October 19 (IANS): Minister of State (MoS) Harsh Malhotra on Saturday targeted Congress Party and Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, accusing them of “hypocrisy” over women empowerment.

This criticism followed Rahul Gandhi’s comments at the Congress’ ‘Shakti Abhiyan’ event, launched under the Indira Fellowship program to promote women empowerment in India.

Speaking at the event on Friday, Rahul Gandhi emphasized the need for real empowerment of women, urging them “not to settle for token positions but to fight for their rightful place in society.”

In response, the BJP has launched sharp attacks on the Congress, accusing the party of making hollow promises on women’s issues.

MoS Harsh Malhotra referred to the infamous 1995 Tandoor murder case to highlight what he called Congress’s ‘double standards’ on women’s protection and empowerment.

Speaking to IANS, Malhotra said, “Congress women have not forgotten the Naina Sahni murder case. People still remember it. She was burnt alive in a tandoor by the then Congress Youth Wing state president. Despite this, the party never did that. brought justice for women.”

He also criticized Congress for not implementing the Women’s Reservation Bill during his time in power.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has ensured women’s representation by passing the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Legislative Assembly and Lok Sabha. Congress, despite years in power, has neither supported nor advanced this bill. Their promises are empty,” he said.

Moreover, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari also attacked Rahul Gandhi over the ‘Shakti Abhiyan’.

“A person who hesitates to say ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’, criticizes India and supports terrorism cannot be expected to have respect for women,” Tiwari told IANS.

It is worth noting that several women leaders have quit the Congress amid allegations of intimidation within the party, and the BJP has criticized the party over this.

One of those leaders, former Congresswoman Radhika Khera, resigned in May this year. In a letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Khera announced her resignation from all party posts and its core membership, citing harassment.

After quitting, Khera alleged that she was repeatedly harassed for visiting the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

In her resignation letter, she alleged that the party discriminated against leaders who attended the Pran Pratishtha ceremony at the temple and described the hostile treatment she suffered.

“I have served the party from my days in NSUI till now. I have devoted 22 years to Congress but recently I have been subjected to harsh treatment. My only mistake was that I could not stop myself from entering the Ram Temple to visit.” Khera wrote in her letter to Kharge.