Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has criticised the BJP over the latter’s decision to launch selfie campaign for highlighting the women-centric initiatives of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre. The Odisha unit of the BJP had earlier stated that the selfie campaign will be launched later this month at panchayat levels across the state.
While unveiling the plans, the BJP had stated that Mahila Morcha members will take selfies with the beneficiaries of various women-centric schemes of the Centre. These pictures will then be uploaded on the social media so that people become aware of the good work done by the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre.
However, BJD spokesperson Shreemayee Mishra said Monday that it would be better if the BJP raises the issue of Women Reservation Bill instead of launching the selfie campaign.
“It would be better if the Odisha unit of BJP raise the issue of Women Reservation Bill in the Parliament,” Mishra told reporters here.
It should be stated here that the Women Reservation Bill seeks to reserve one-third (33 per cent) seats in Lok Sabha and state Assemblies for women. The Bill was first introduced in the Parliament when HD Deve Gowda was the Prime Minister. Similar versions of the Bill were also introduced in the Parliament in 1999 and 2008.
Mishra also slammed that BJP over the implementation of Ujjawala Yojana of the Centre. “Around 90 lakh women could not refill the gas cylinders under the Ujjawala Yojana in the 2021-22 fiscal,” Mishra pointed out. “So the BJP Mahila Morcha should raise the real issues of women instead of launching the selfie campaign,” she added.