Union Minister Kiren Rijiju came down on the Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi over his demand for inclusion of Dalits, backward classes and those from OBC classes in beauty pageants like Miss India and said that such a proposal can come from a person with ‘Bal Budhi’.
Rahul Gandhi, while addressing Samvidhan Samman Sammelan in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj on Saturday, made a pitch for introducing reservation in Miss India contests while slamming the government for its disregard for the backward and downtrodden classes.
“I checked the list of Miss India, it didn’t have any Dalit, Adivasi (tribal) or OBC (Other Backward Classes) women. Some will talk about Cricket or Bollywood. Even top anchors in the media are not from the 90 per cent,” Rahul told the audience in Prayagraj.
Kiren Rijiju, the Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs as well as Minority Affairs shared Rahul’s viral video, where he pitches for making the platform accessible for women from Dalit and OBC communities and called out his ‘hypocrisy’ by setting records straight.
“Now, he wants reservations in Miss India competitions, films, sports! It is not only the issue of ‘Bal Budhi’, but people who cheer him are equally responsible too!” Rijiju wrote on X while sharing a clipping of Rahul’s video.
The Union Minister further stated that the Congress leader can’t divide the country. “PM @narendramodi Ji made it clear that the Supreme Court won’t be allowed to alter reservations in IAS, IPS, IFS, all top services recruitment. But he can’t see 1st Tribal President, OBC PM, Record Numbers of SC/ST Cabinet Ministers!,” added Rijiju.
“Childish humour may be good for entertainment but don’t make fun of backward communities in your divisive tactics,” he said, advising the LoP to refrain from such behaviour.
The Union Minister further said, “Rahul Gandhi ji, governments don’t select Miss India, governments don’t select athletes for Olympics, and governments do not choose actors for films.”