Patna: Congress on Friday courted controversy after it pasted Rahul Gandhi picture on the sanitary pads to be distributed in the poll bound Bihar even as NDA alleged that the former exposed itself of being a victim of mental bankruptcy by indulging in such an act.
Apparently inspired by the film, ‘Padman’, Congress will distribute five lakh sanitary pads to women in the state.
Along with the picture of Rahul, the slogan of 'Nari Nyay, Mahila Samman' and the promotion of 'Mai Bahin Maan Yojana' is printed on the packet of these sanitary pads. The promise of an honorarium of Rs 2500 to needy women is also written on the packet.
Congress`s new initiative is seen as an attempt to woo women voters before the state polls. Bihar chief minister and JD (U) president Nitish Kumar assiduously cultivated the women constituency by launching various schemes for them.
Bihar Congress president Rajesh Ram made an announcement about it in a press conference held at the state police headquarters, Sadaqat Ashram on Friday. AICC In charge of Bihar Krishna Allavaru was also present on the occasion.
Bihar government provides Rs 300 annually to adolescent girls under the Mukhyamantri Kishori Swasthya Yojana (Chief Minister Kishori Health Scheme) to purchase sanitary napkins.
Meanwhile, NDA launched a blistering attack on Congress for the sanitary pad boxes having picture of Rahul on the cover.
"An insult to Bihar`s women 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," tweeted BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari.
On the other hand, BJP spokesperson Kuntal Krishna and JD (U) spokesperson Arvind Nishad alleged that it showed Congress`s mental bankruptcy.
Earlier, Mahila Congress chief Alka Lamb while citing a survey claimed that out of about 40,000 schools in Bihar, only 350 have the facility to provide sanitary napkins and 80 percent of the girls in the state are not able to get pads during menstruation.
