Latest news with #PriyadarshiniUdaanYojana
NDTV
a day ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Rahul Gandhi's Picture On Sanitary Pad Packets In Bihar Sparks Row
The Congress' decision to front Rahul Gandhi's face on the free sanitary pads it aims to distribute to women in Bihar has run into rough weather. The rival parties have questioned the rationale of Mr Gandhi's face on the product meant for women. The pads are being distributed under the party's Priyadarshini Udaan Yojana, aimed at raising menstrual hygiene awareness among women in Bihar. The initiative, says the party, is part of a larger campaign for women voters in the state. "This drive is in line with the promise of Rs 2,500 monthly stipend under the Mai Bahin Samman Yojana that INDIA bloc would implement upon coming to power. We intend to provide free sanitary napkins", said Bihar Congress chief Rajesh Kumar, who displayed packets containing the free pads, on Friday. Over 5 lakh sanitary pad boxes will be distributed, said the party, underscoring the aim is to address menstrual health, break social taboos, and also spread awareness across rural and urban areas alike. "What has happened to the Congress Party?" Nitish Kumar's party spokesperson Neeraj Kumar asked, calling the strategy a shallow electoral gimmick. "Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has been working continuously to empower the daughters and sisters of state, to empower them and to build a robust landscape for their overall development. The election year has come; daughters, women are a symbol of respect and honour, but you, in an arrogant display of power, put your face on it (sanitary pads)," he said, slamming the use of Mr Gandhi's image on the sanitary pads. MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's face, too, appears on the sanitary pad packets. "It shows, in politics, what is called ideological bankruptcy or lack of intellect. Not understanding the situation, or, naturally, the outcomes of being with a party like RJD, which is known for its political misdeeds, the effect of that co-operation was seen," Neeraj Kumar further said. Predictably, the BJP too joined the chorus of voices against the Congress. "Whatever needs to be done for women in Bihar is being done by the government. But the Congress, which is worried about its prospects in the upcoming assembly polls, has shown its ideological bankruptcy. Its leader Rahul Gandhi has been notorious for lacking a sense of propriety. The trait seems to have afflicted the party, in which sycophancy reigns supreme," BJP spokesman Kuntal Krishna alleged. Congress leader Alka Lamba countered the criticism, by trying to turn the needle on the question of women having to use cloth during their menstruation cycle. "In the modern era, the question is not why Rahul Gandhi's photos are there on the packets. The question is why our daughters in Bihar are still compelled to use pieces of cloth during their menstruation cycle, and fall ill. The BJP has always had an anti-women mindset," she said. Bihar will go to polls later this year.
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Cong's pad scheme sparks row as Rahul's photo appears on boxes
Patna: The Congress's announcement to distribute five lakh sanitary pad boxes under its 'Priyadarshini Udaan Yojana' triggered a political storm in Bihar on Friday after images of party MP Rahul Gandhi appeared on the boxes. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The NDA criticised the move, calling it a "direct insult" to women, who have emerged as key voters in recent state elections. Bihar Congress president Rajesh Kumar, speaking in the presence of All India Mahila Congress chief Alka Lamba, said the scheme was aimed at promoting menstrual hygiene awareness among rural women. "We have a special plan for the women folk in Bihar. We plan to provide free sanitary napkins to women for which we will launch an intensive campaign," Kumar told reporters here. However, controversy erupted when he held up a sanitary pad box displaying Rahul's photo alongside the INDIA bloc's proposed 'Mai-Bahin Maan Yojana', which promises Rs 2,500 monthly to women if voted to power. The ruling alliance reacted with outrage. JD(U) MLC and spokesperson Neeraj Kumar accused the Congress of degrading the dignity of women. "The Congress seems to have taken a leaf out of the book of its ally RJD, which has been known for a lumpen style of politics. Our leader Nitish Kumar has been tirelessly working for women's empowerment and the results are for all to see. But the Congress has insulted the dignity of women," he said. BJP spokesperson Kuntal Krishna echoed the sentiment. "Whatever needs to be done for women in Bihar is being done by the govt. But the Congress, which is worried about its prospects in the upcoming assembly polls, has shown its ideological bankruptcy. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Its leader Rahul Gandhi has been notorious for lacking a sense of propriety. The trait seems to have afflicted the party, in which sycophancy reigns supreme," he said. Women too expressed disapproval of the design. "This is nothing but an insult to the entire women community who will find the image of a male while using the sanitary pads. This is very bad. The Congress is stooping too low to win the support of the women voters," said Pinki Kumari of Muzaffarpur. "If the Congress thinks it will get support of the women class by distributing free napkins with the image of Rahul Gandhi, then it is sheer stupidity," she added, arguing the focus should have been on women's safety. "Rahul Gandhi is trying to emerge as a 'Pad Man' but that is not the way to launch a party campaign," said Sunita Singh of Vaishali. Defending the campaign, Lamba said, "In the modern era, the question should not be why Rahul ji's photo was put on the sanitary napkin box, the real question is why our daughters in Bihar are still forced to use cloth during menstruation and becoming victims of serious diseases?" She also criticised the BJP's response. "From a 'sindoor box' to vaccine certificates, the BJP, which prints Modi ji's photo on everything, is now troubled by Rahul ji's photo. The work that the govt should have done, we have started," Lamba said, crediting Rahul's "inspiration and visionary thinking" for making the campaign possible. (WIth PTI inputs)
Hans India
a day ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Rahul Gandhi's photo on sanitary pads in Bihar: JD-U slams Congress for 'ideological bankruptcy'
New Delhi: Congress party's unique women-centric initiative and public outreach via sanitary pads has sparked controversy in the poll-bound Bihar, with political parties reacting sharply to what they called 'weird' attempt to woo voters. The ruling Janata Dal (United) launched a tirade at the grand old party for politicizing issues sensitive to women and called it an example of its ideological bankruptcy. The criticism was triggered by a photograph of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi featuring prominently on sanitary pad packets, being distributed under the party's Priyadarshini Udaan Yojana, aimed at raising menstrual hygiene awareness among women in Bihar. The Congress launched the initiative as part of a larger campaign for women voters in the state. The party claimed that over 5 lakh sanitary pad boxes will be distributed, with an aim to address menstrual health, break social taboos, and also spread awareness across rural and urban areas alike. However, JD-U spokesperson Neeraj Kumar strongly criticised the Congress over the move. "What has happened to the Congress Party?" he asked, calling the strategy a shallow electoral gimmick. 'Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has been working continuously to empower the daughters and sisters of state, to empower them and to build a robust landscape for their overall development. The election year has come; daughters, women are a symbol of respect and honour, but you, in an arrogant display of power, put your face on it (sanitary pads),' he said, slamming the use of Rahul Gandhi's image on the sanitary pads. Neeraj Kumar further said the Congress's alliance with a party like the RJD has led to such political missteps. 'It shows, in politics, what is called ideological bankruptcy or lack of intellect. Not understanding the situation, or, naturally, the outcomes of being with a party like RJD, which is known for its political misdeeds, the effect of that co-operation was seen.' The sanitary pad distribution is part of the party's Priyadarshini Udaan Yojana, under which the Congress claims to be advocating for menstrual hygiene and awareness. In addition, the party has unveiled the Mai Bahin Maan Yojana, a flagship welfare scheme for the economic empowerment for women. Under the Mai Bahin Maan Yojana, the Congress promises to provide Rs 2,500 per month directly into the bank accounts of economically disadvantaged women, if the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) forms the government in Bihar.
Mint
a day ago
- Politics
- Mint
Bihar Election 2025: Rahul Gandhi's image on sanitary pads sparks political row– ‘an insult of women'
Bihar Election 2025: The Congress party's attempt to woo women voters by distributing sanitary pads has triggered a political controversy over a picture of Rahul Gandhi on the boxes being distributed to over 5 lakh women in the poll-bound state. The initiative, called Priyadarshini Udaan Yojana, aims to raise menstrual hygiene awareness and is part of the Congress's broader women-centric outreach. The sanitary pad boxes feature a photo of Rahul Gandhi, with the Congress's poll promise of a ₹ 2,500 dole per month to women from deprived families. "An insult of women of Bihar with Rahul Gandhi's picture on a sanitary pad! Congress is an Anti-Women party! Women of Bihar will teach the Congress and RJD a lesson," BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said in a post on X. The RJD is the Congress party's alliance partner in the INDIA bloc in Bihar. An insult of women of Bihar with Rahul Gandhi's picture on sanitary pad! Congress is an Anti-Women party! Political parties have been focusing on women-centric issues ahead of Bihar Elections 2025 scheduled later this year. While the opposition Mahagathbandhan has promised a monthly cash transfer of ₹ 2,500 into women's bank accounts under its 'Mai Behan Maan Yojana' if it was elected to power, the Nitish Kumar-led government has launched a 'Mahila Samvad' program - a village-to-village outreach program to connect with 2 crore women. Key Takeaways Political campaigns are increasingly targeting women voters with specific initiatives. The backlash against Congress highlights the sensitivity surrounding women's issues in political discourse. Initiatives promoting menstrual hygiene can be both empowering and controversial in the political arena.
India Today
a day ago
- Politics
- India Today
Congress's 'Padman' strategy with Rahul Gandhi's photo stirs row in Bihar
What seemed to be a key election strategy by the Congress in Bihar, inspired by the film 'Padman', to woo women voters by distributing sanitary pads, has triggered a full-fledged controversy. All due to a picture of Rahul Gandhi on the sanitary pad boxes being given to over 5 lakh women in the initiative, called Priyadarshini Udaan Yojana, aims to raise menstrual hygiene awareness and is part of the Congress's broader women-centric outreach. advertisementThe sanitary pad boxes feature a photo of Rahul Gandhi, with the Congress's poll promise of a Rs 2,500 dole per month to women from deprived families. However, the decision to feature Rahul's photo on the sanitary pad boxes has invited criticism from the BJP."An insult of women of Bihar with Rahul Gandhi's picture on sanitary pad! Congress is an Anti-Women party! Women of Bihar will teach the Congress and RJD a lesson," tweeted BJP national spokesperson Pradeep of the elections in Bihar, the focus has steadily shifted to the promises being made by the political parties to women, who are expected to play a key role in the the opposition Mahagathbandhan has promised a monthly cash transfer of Rs 2,500 into women's bank accounts under its 'Mai Behan Maan Yojana' if it was elected to power, the Nitish Kumar-led government has launched a 'Mahila Samvad' program - a village-to-village outreach program to connect with 2 crore women.- EndsMust Watch
