india

Updated: Jun 28, 2015 14:04 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked people to post selfies with their daughters to promote the 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' initiative as addressed the nation through his 'Mann ki Baat' radio programme on Sunday.

He, however, made no reference to the controversy surrounding Vasundhara Raje and Sushma Swaraj, embroiled in a row over helping former IPL boss Lalit Modi with his travel papers. The Congress has repeatedly questioned Modi's silence on the issue.

Raje, at the centre of a storm after it emerged that she signed an affidavit backing Lalit Modi's British immigration appeal on the condition that her endorsement would be kept secret, flew in and out of Delhi on Saturday without an audience with the BJP's top leadership.

A BJP leader said on condition of anonymity a possible meeting between Raje and PM Modi would have unnecessarily provoked the Congress to target the party's leadership.

In the ninth edition of his 'Mann ki Baat' programme on Sunday, PM Modi said: "In Haryana, a village Sarpanch initiated a #SelfieWithDaughter initiative… I urge all of you, share selfies with your daughters with the hashtag #SelfieWithDaughter. Also share a tagline that will encourage 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao'."

Modi asked people to ensure that in the run-up to the Raksha Bandhan festival, women get benefits of social security schemes launched by the government.

"In August, we have Raksha Bandhan, we can begin a mass movement to ensure that all women and sisters of our country get all security scheme benefits before Raksha Bandhan," the PM said.

"Whether it is a woman working as a maid in our house, or in our fields or whether it is our own sisters, we can ensure that they avail the social security schemes," he said.

He expressed delight over the "great response" across the country, with people sharing pictures using #IncredibleIndia.

"So many people shared #IncredibleIndia photos on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. We will continue this. The world must see the glimpses of #IncredibleIndia," he said.

Modi also expressed his gratitude over the International Yoga Day celebrations, noting that the event was observed across the world.

"The rays of the sun were welcomed by yoga all over the world on Yoga Day on June 21. On June 21, when I saw glimpses of UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon doing yoga the UN headquarters, I felt very happy. I am also happy that the armed forces joined in the Yoga Day celebrations," he said.

A belligerent BJP has decided to brazen it out after the party was sucked into fresh controversies as a Delhi court admitted a fake-degree case against HRD minister Smriti Irani and allegations were hurled Swaraj Raje, according to sources.

Read:

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