Why BJP chose BSY, girl asks Smriti Irani

Belagavi: Union minister for information broadcasting and textiles Smriti Irani faced tough questions by medical and nursing students during the Karunada Mahila Jagruti Samvada organised at KLE’s JN Medical College here on Saturday.
When a girl student asked why the BJP chose B S Yeddyurappa as its chief ministerial candidate given that he’s old, she cut her short and said Siddaramaiah too is old. She said it’s more important who delivers in politics. She said Akhilesh Yadav, though younger than many politicians, failed to deliver as Uttar Pradesh CM. Yeddyurappa was chosen for his experience and delivering on promises.

When another student raised the unemployment issue, she said the last Union budget encourages more women to be employable. Nearly 76% beneficiaries of MUDRA Yojna are women and the government has given a package of Rs 6,000 crore to the textile industry to generate more employment opportunities.

Replying to a question about ATMs going cashless, Smriti said it’s online scare-mongering by the opposition. People are being misguided by uploading pictures clicked during demonetization, she said, blaming some news channels for the problem.

She claimed there is angst among people about the Lingayat card played by Siddaramaiah for votes. She said the divide-and-rule policy is not new to Indian politics. However, people, especially youths, don’t accept it, she said.

She didn’t respond clearly to a question about different punishment for those who rape women and children. She said it’s a historic decision taken by PM Modi, passing an ordinance that rapists of girls below 12 years would be hanged till death. The law has been made extremely stringent and now it’s the responsibility of the judiciary.

Defending the tax on sanitary pads, she said the decision was taken keeping the domestic industry in the mind and to give more scope to self-help groups in the sector. She said the product can’t be brought under zero taxation slab.

Responding to biased news reports, Smriti Irani said, “This is happening because editors and managements are chasing TRPs and consumers are victims of it. I’m trying to change this. There is no shortage of talent in the television industry.”

Meanwhile, there are attempts to increase the number of women in science & technology through various initiatives of the central government. She clarified that caste-based reservations would continue. Rajya Sabha member Prabhakar Kore, MP Suresh Angadi and BJP state women morcha president Bharati Shetty were present.