Congress president Rahul Gandhi at Mahila Adhikar Sammelan in New Delhi. (Photo/ANI)
Amid a nation-wide outrage over horrific cases of sexual abuse at shelter homes meant for girls in Bihar's Muzaffarpur and Uttar Pradesh's Deoria, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday attacked PM Narendra Modi over his silence on crime against women. Launching a stinging attack on the prime minister, the top Congress leader said women are living in an atmosphere of fear, however, he remains silent over the issue.
Speaking at Mahila Adhikar Sammelan, Rahul Gandhi said questioned PM Modi's silence over Muzaffarpur shelter home case where minor girls were raped. "Bihar me chhoti bachhiyon ka rape hota hai aur PM ek shabd nahi kehte, ulta unke party ke netao ki raksha karte hain (Small girls were raped in Bihar but our PM remained mum. Instead, he appeared protecting his party leaders involved)," Rahul Gandhi said.
"The PM doesn't say anything on the incidents of rape. What happened against women in these four years is something which didn't happen even in last 70 years," he added.
Hitting out at the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for not allowing women members, Rahul Gandhi said the organisation and the BJP believe that only men can run the country. Their ideology is not to allow women take leadership role, Rahul Gandhi added.
"They talk a lot but Women's Reservation Bill is long pending. Congress told them clearly that the entire party will stand by them the day they decide to pass it. But PM doesn't say anything. They said 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao'. Hamein nahi samajh aya beti kisse bachani thi," Rahul Gandhi quipped.
"The daughters need to be saved from BJP MLAs," he added.
"The BJP is devastating our country and damaging our institutions. There is no institution in the country which is not under attack. Minorities, Dalits, women and tribals: all of them are under attack. It is our responsibility to protect them all and we will not back down. We will defeat the BJP," Rahul Gandhi said.
