Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

BENGALURU: Projecting the women oriented schemes and achievements of his government as a poll plank for Karnataka elections, including the decision of giving two key portfolios to women colleagues, to attract women towards the BJP fold, at the upcoming May 12 elections,Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday morning asked the Karnataka Mahila Morcha to concentrate on its efforts in bringing more women voters to the polling station.

In his third part of an interactive video conferencing session with a state party wing, after the BJP workers and the Raitha Morcha, Modi was vocal about ensuring that the party cadre concentrate on the booth level to win the 2018 elections.

“Let women decide the future of Karnataka. Concentrate on the women voters. Bring a spirit of competition into them by ensuring they beat the men in casting their ballot. If 300 men vote in a polling station, make sure 350 women cast their ballot. In the name of asking them to vote for women safety and empowerment, ask them to come out and vote. Then you will start seeing the positive results,” said Modi to the women cadre of the party.

Earlier in his interaction, Modi used audio visual mode to propagate the BJP’s “commitment” towards empowering women in the country.

Using two photographs of defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman at a world defence ministers meet and that of external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj at a world external affairs ministers conclave, the sole women amidst a group of men at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meet in China, Modi portrayed that the current dispensation at the centre was giving women the opportunity to lead the country in matters of national security.

“For the BJP, be it the organisation, administration or policy formulation, “women first” has been the policy. If you look at the Cabinet structure also, capable women have been given key portfolios. The recent SCO meeting in China saw two photographs go viral on social media. These photos were of external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and that of Karnataka’s own MP Nirmala Sitharaman, who are both standing in separate photographs and are the sole women amidst a group of global ministers,” he said.

The PM also showed an advertisement video outlining the benefits of the schemes launched by the BJP government in the country.

Modi also projected that his was the only government that considered giving the Padmashree awards to unknown women from various quarters of lives who have dedicated themselves to a cause and recalled two women from Karnataka who were recognised and given the prestigious awards to establish a connect with the local audience.

“I would like to recall that recently our government gave the Padmashree award to Sitavva Jodatti from Belagavi, a woman who has dedicated her life towards the upliftment of women. It is not without any good reason that she is called “goddess of women empowerment”. And we are proud of it that such women are being recognised by our government, as is the policy to identify the contribution of women towards the society from far and wide across the country,” Modi said.

The PM also recalled the name of Sulagatti Narasamma (97), a mid wife who has delivered 15,000 deliveries successfully in the last 70 years in and around Tumakuru.

During his 45 minutes interaction, Modi also recalled the schemes of BJP state president and former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa from 2008 BJP government like Bhagyalakshmi, Bala Sanjeevani and free cycles for girl students in the state.

PM says Congress runs on lies, CM hits back

During the course of the interaction, Modi went on to criticise the Congress government over spreading lies in the state against the centre.

Responding to a question raised by Asha Rao, general secretary for the Mahila Morcha in Bengaluru over the Congress government in the state trying to allegedly spread false rumours of the centre’s schemes for women, Modi said: “Lies are the only thing that is driving the Congress, there is no substance in them. With such lies they are not only losing their credibility, they are also hurting the society and causing disappointment among people.”

Hitting back at Modi’s criticisms and showcasing of his achievements, chief minister Siddaramaiah ridiculed the statement of the PM that capable women have been given key portfolios in the central cabinet by citing it as just “tokenism”.

Using twitter, Siddaramaiah went on to list out the schemes brought out by the Congress government including Mathrupoorna, free education to girl child from 1st to post graduation and free bus passes to girl students.

Siddaramaiah claimed that the BJP hypocrisy was quite evident with its stand over opposing the candle light marches against the perpetrators of Kathua child rapists while at the same speaking of Mahila Shakthi.

Ask women to not serve their households tea or breakfast till people cast their vote: PM

During his interaction with the Mahila morcha of Karnataka BJP ahead of the May 12 elections, prime minister Narendra Modi asked the party cadre to infuse spirit of competition among women voters and make them the drivers of social change on Election Day.

“On Election Day ensure that women voters are convinced to not serve tea or breakfast to their voting family members till they cast their ballot. This will bring a change in the attitude of people. Drive home the point that people should vote early in the morning before any morsel of food is taken,” he said.

Remind men of their values and only then they will respect societal norms: PM

Prime minister Narendra Modi on Friday, during an interaction with the Karnataka BJP Mahila morcha said that men must be reminded of their values and tradition to curb the number of crimes against women. Responding to a question by Rani Sanyukta, state Vice President for the Mahila morcha, on how to decrease the crimes against women, Modi said: “Women are constantly monitored by families as to whom they meet, where they go and what they do. But have families ever questioned men the same way? There needs to be a change in the attitude of society by questioning men too as to who they meet, where they go and who their friends are. Only when men are reminded of their values and traditions that they will start respecting the societal norms in the country. And for those who do not, strict punishment under the law should be taken.”

