‘Wayanad will meet the same fate as Amethi…’: Smriti Irani targets Rahul Gandhi

Thiruvananthapuram: Union minister Smriti Irani on Monday took a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, saying if he “resides” in Wayanad, it would meet the same fate as Amethi in Uttar Pradesh when he was its MP. Gandhi was an MP from the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency before he was convicted and sentenced to two years in prison by a Gujarat court in a criminal defamation case. The Gujarat High Court has reserved its verdict on the Congress leader’s plea to stay his conviction. After inaugurating the state-level women’s labor convention organized by the Kerala unit of the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) here, Irani said she had the “good fortune” to “see off” Gandhi from Amethi.

“His reason was that when he was the MP from Amethi, 80 per cent of the people there had no electricity connection, no district collector office, no fire station, no medical college, no Kendriya Vidyalaya or Sainik School There was no dialysis center or X-ray machine in the district hospital.

“After he left, all these facilities and infrastructure were made possible there. So, if he stays in Wayanad, it will meet the same fate as Amethi. So, you (people) have to ensure that he stays here. Don’t stay.” Union Minister for Women and Child Development said.

The minister further said that wherever he is, be it in Delhi or Amethi, he is very concerned about Wayanad and hence, has decided to convert 250 anganwadis there into ‘Saksham’ anganwadis.

Saksham Anganwadi is a centrally sponsored scheme under which Anganwadis in States and Union Territories provide a package of six services – Supplementary Nutrition, Pre-school Non-Formal Education, Nutrition and Health Education, Immunization, Health Checkup and Referral Services – – to all eligible beneficiaries

Irani also talked about the various schemes, initiatives or policies of the Central Government implemented in Kerala for the safety of women, financial security of the people and social welfare of the citizens of the state.

On the issue of alleged lack of women safety in the state, the minister referred to the recent murder of a young doctor Vandana Das in a taluk hospital in the state and said it was surprising that such an incident happened despite being present there. Police officers there.

He questioned that despite various initiatives of the central government, such as training personnel to help victims of cybercrime, distribution of forensic kits and facilitating the setting up of more fast-track courts, the law and order system in Kerala Providing financial assistance to strengthen the Why? There was a “lack of intention” on the part of the administration to ensure women’s safety.

“So when one hears about crimes against women in the state, one is compelled to ask what is being done by the state governments to ensure women, despite all the central help including financial aid to strengthen the system Why is there a lack of intent from the side of the security,” said the minister.

Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan, who also spoke at the event, expressed similar views on the issue of women’s safety, especially at their workplaces.

She said that ‘night walks’, where women come out on the streets in large numbers, do not indicate or ensure their safety as in reality they often return home late from work alone.

Later on Monday, both Irani and Muraleedharan met Dr Das’s family at their residence in Muttuchira in Kaduthuruthy area of ​​Kottayam district and consoled the parents.

Before returning from there, he also paid tribute to the urn built near the house in the memory of Dr. Das.

Earlier on Monday, Irani in her speech had said that the ruling Left Front in the state claimed to work for the welfare of the poor, but it was the Center which was trying to ensure economic justice and financial security for the people of Kerala. Was. , The Left only makes claims, he alleged.

The BJP leader further alleged that the Left Front is only known for hartals and works for its own political development.