Date:03/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/03/stories/2007050308150400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

A situation the BJP leader had not bargained for

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: President of BJP's Mahila Morcha Kiran Maheshwari had to face a barrage of questions from media persons on Wednesday on the embarrassing episode of her party MLA M.P. Renukacharya charged with harassing a woman.

The issue came up when Ms. Maheshwari, while addressing a press conference in Bangalore, expressed concern over the increasing number of atrocities against women in the country.

When queried on the stand of the Mahila Morcha on this episode, she only said, "you have brought the issue to my notice now. We will look into it."

To another query on why the Mahila Morcha was silent on the Janata Dal (S)-BJP Government not inducting any woman legislator in the Ministry, she said, "such lacunae will be rectified when the 20-month rule of the BJP-led Ministry will commence in the State."

The Mahila Morcha leader alleged that the UPA Government at the Centre had an "anti-women" mindset. She alleged that the UPA Government had failed to table the draft of the Women's Reservation Bill in the Parliament though the BJP had assured it of extending unconditional support.

This had shown that there was dishonesty in the intentions and policies of the UPA government, especially the Congress, she argued.

Price rise

She expressed concern that women were worst hit by the rise in the prices of essential commodities.

A large number of women from the poor families were going to bed without food as there was a reduction in the purchase of groceries due to price rise, she said.

Ms. Maheshwari declared that the Mahila Morcha would oppose any move to introduce sex education in schools.

She termed sex education as an assault on the country's moral tradition by the UPA Government.

The Government was forced to withdraw sex education lessons from the curriculum following the opposition by the BJP, she said and alleged that the Congress had introduced vulgar material in school curriculum in the name of sex education.