Union Minister Smriti Irani took a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, suggesting that if he remains in Wayanad, the constituency would suffer the same fate as Amethi did when he was the Member of Parliament there. Rahul Gandhi had represented the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency before being convicted and sentenced to two years in a criminal defamation case. The Gujarat High Court is yet to deliver its verdict on his plea for a stay on the conviction.
During the inauguration of the state-level Women Labour Convention organized by the Kerala unit of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) in Thiruvananthapuram, Smriti Irani stated that she had the “good fortune” of being the one who “sent away” Rahul Gandhi from Amethi. She mentioned the lack of basic facilities in Amethi during Rahul Gandhi’s tenure, including electricity connections, a District Collector’s office, a fire station, a medical college, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Sainik School, and dialysis and X-ray facilities at the district hospital. According to Irani, these facilities and infrastructure were developed in Amethi after Rahul Gandhi’s departure. She warned that if he remains in Wayanad, the same fate would befall the constituency, urging the people to ensure he doesn’t stay there.
Smriti Irani expressed her concern for Wayanad and shared her decision to convert 250 anganwadis in the area into ‘saksham’ (capable) Anganwadi. Saksham anganwadis are part of a centrally sponsored scheme that provides various services such as supplementary nutrition, preschool education, health and nutrition education, immunization, health check-ups, and referral services to eligible beneficiaries.
The minister also highlighted various central government schemes and policies implemented in Kerala to promote women’s safety, financial security, and social welfare. She questioned the state government’s lack of intention to ensure women’s safety despite central government initiatives, such as training personnel to handle cybercrime, distributing forensic kits, establishing fast-track courts, and providing financial support to strengthen the law and order system.
Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan echoed similar concerns about women’s safety, particularly in workplaces. He pointed out that participating in “night walks” does not guarantee women’s safety, as they often have to return home alone late at night.
Later, Smriti Irani and V Muraleedharan visited the family of Dr. Vandana Das, a young doctor who was recently killed at a taluk hospital in Kerala. They consoled the parents and paid tribute at the ossuary built near their house in memory of Dr. Das.
In her speech, Smriti Irani accused the ruling Left Front in Kerala of making empty claims about working for the welfare of the poor. She alleged that the Left Front is known for strikes and only works for their political development.
The event saw Smriti Irani criticizing Rahul Gandhi and questioning the state government’s commitment to women’s safety while emphasizing the central government’s initiatives and efforts in Kerala.
