Press Briefing Saturday, 25 Apr 2009

Smt. Renuka Choudhary addressed the media today.

Smt. Renuka Choudhary said that the BJP is very good in hijacking programmes initiated by the UPA government. Their proposed “Ladli” scheme which the BJP is publicizing today is a only a rip-off from the ‘Dhan Lakshmi’ scheme, which offers a conditional cash transfer, introduced by the Congress-led UPA Government and applied throughout the country. She further said that the foundation for providing a better future to the girl child has been laid by the Congress led UPA Government, which specially constituted a separate Ministry for the Women and Child Welfare Development. In addition to this a number of other schemes and enactments have been made during the last three years to raise awareness on issues relating to the girl child. On the contrary the BJP party never raised such issues either in or outside the Parliament.

Smt. Renuka Choudhary said that the BJP-ruled states get grants from the Centre for running such schemes but change its name to showcase them as their own.

Smt. Renuka Choudhary further said that it seemed that the BJP has changed their mind about the Prime Ministerial candidate and has now introduced Mr. Modi to replace Mr. Advani, which is indicative of the BJP’s insecurity in this regard.

On the question of Shri Arun Jatiley echoing Shri Arun Shourie’s support for Mr. Modi as the Prime Ministerial candidate of the BJP, Smt. Renuka Choudhary said that this was their internal matter and the Congress Party was not concerned with this.

Responding to the BJP terming the UPA’s rule of 5 years as a “misrule” as far as economy is concerned and the Prime
Minister’s promise to put the economy back on track within 100 days of forming the new government, as an attempt to hoodwink the citizens; Smt. Renuka Choudhary said that the BJP were never part of the growth story of India and they have always been detrimental to growth. She added that India has seen GDP growth rates of 9% and high disposable incomes despite the global recession, which the BJP could never manage to achieve.

On a question alleging that the death of schoolgirl Akriti Bhatia was receiving more focus than Shanno’s case, merely because Shanno hailed from a poor family, Smt. Renuka Choudhary said that as far as her Ministry is concerned, there is no discrimination between children on the grounds of class and economic status. She added that the death of any child causes anxiety and insecurity, whether the child goes to a private school or Government school. Smt. Renuka Choudhary reiterated that she has always raised her voice whether it was Nithari or Aarushi’s case or the recent Aakriti Bhatia or Shanno case. Despite being in the middle of her election campaign, Smt. Renuka Choudhary said that she did not hesitate to put this aside and voice her opinion on the Shanno case, which clearly reflects the seriousness with which she views these issues.

Smt. Renuka Choudhary said that it was for the first time in the history of independent India that a National Commission of Protection of Child Right giving a platform for the protection of child rights, which highlight the commitment of the UPA government in this regard.






(Tom Vadakkan)

Secretary, AICC