BJP Minister’s Misspelling of ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ Sparks Controversy

GG News Bureau
Bhopal, 20th June. Union Minister and BJP leader Savitri Thakur is facing criticism after misspelling the slogan ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ during an event in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district. The incident occurred at a function organized under the ‘School Chalo Abhiyan’ initiative on Wednesday, where Ms. Thakur inadvertently wrote “Beddi Padao Bachav” on a whiteboard, instead of the correct phrase.

Thakur, who serves as the Minister of State for Women and Child Development and represents Dhar in the Lok Sabha, faced immediate criticism from opposition parties, particularly the Congress. Senior Congress leader KK Mishra questioned Thakur’s educational qualifications, calling it a “misfortune of democracy” that such mistakes are made by elected representatives holding significant responsibilities.

“In a democracy, those in constitutional posts and overseeing major departments should at least be proficient in their mother tongue. How can they effectively manage their ministries?” Mishra remarked, advocating for constitutional amendments to set minimum educational standards for electoral candidates.

The ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ initiative, launched in 2015, aims to tackle declining child sex ratios and promote female education across India.

Dhar district BJP president Manoj Somani defended Ms. Thakur, accusing the Congress of biased views against tribal leaders. “Savitri ji’s intentions are pure, but Congress leaders are maligning her. The tribal community will not forgive this insult to one of their own,” Somani asserted.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly, Umang Singhar, criticized Ms. Thakur’s competency and the BJP’s selection process for ministers. “What kind of leadership does Prime Minister Narendra Modi desire? Is competence no longer a requirement?” Singhar questioned on social media, highlighting the disappointment among voters over the incident.