Congress National spokesperson Dr. Shama Mohamed has welcomed the apex court’s decision against the Centre’s plea that sought to defer NDA exam for women, slams BJPs dubious stance on women’s empowerment
The Indian National Congress has welcomed the Supreme Court decision of rejecting the Central government plea to defer women from writing the National Defence Academy (NDA) exam till next year.
National spokesperson of Congress, Dr. Shama Mohamed said that SC has rightfully rejected the Centre’s plea to defer women from writing the NDA examinations. She tweeted: “SC rightfully refused, saying ‘Can’t deny girls hope’. This is the BJP’s real stand on women empowerment.”
She further said that the BJP government’s plea shows its dubious stand on women’s empowerment. Their campaign titled ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ is just an election slogan, she added.
SC rejects Centre’s deferment plea on women writing NDA exam
The Supreme Court, earlier today, refused to vacate its order allowing women to write National Defence Academy and Naval Academy examinations this year .
According to Bar and Bench report, the apex court stated that it will not be fair to restrain its previous order as it already gave hope to the willing candidates. It directed the Centre to work something out, instead of asking the Court to postpone the exam. The results will take around two months to be published.
Meanwhile, the apex court has kept the petition pending and will hear it again in January 2022 to provide further directions if required.
Last month, in an interim order, the Supreme Court had allowed women to participate in the NDA exam that was postponed to November from the earlier date of September 5.
Centre’s affidavit on women writing NDA exam
The Ministry of Defence had filed an affidavit seeking ‘reasonable time’ to formulate policies, like fixing the intake stand, determining medical standards based on age and nature of training, and many more, for allowing women to be admitted into the Army.
The Ministry represented by Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati stated in the affidavit that any dilution in the defence training would adversely affect the worthiness of the Indian Army.
BJP’s stance on women empowerment falters
On multiple occasions, BJP’s stance on women empowerment has fallen flat due to irksome comments by its ministers and party members. Several ministers and MPs have gone on record justifying rape as a fault of women. A woman calls for male attention by wearing short and revealing clothes, they had said.
BJP’s Unnao MP Sakshi Maharaj, while speakin at a 2015 rally in Meerut, had even asked women to produce at least four kids to protect Hinduism.
Earlier, Madhya Pardesh Home Minister Babulal Gaur was quoted saying, rape is a social crime that is “sometimes right, sometimes wrong.” As per his beliefs, a government cannot ensure women’s safety.
Crime against women has not seen a drop or a visible drop in India. A few months ago, the whole of India had criticized BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh for the mis-handling of the Dalit rape case in Hathras.