NEW DELHI, Apr 8: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today said women empowerment was must to make India a developed nation.
Addressing the annual general meeting of women wing of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in the national capital, Mr Modi said dignity of women is a step towards nation building.
“In the 18th century people used to kill girl child after their birth. It was expected that the situation will be changed after the Independence. But in the 21st century, the women are being treated worse than the 18th century. Girls are aborted inside a mother’s womb. There is discrimination between boys and girls,” Mr Modi said.
His speech at FICCI came four days after Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s speech at Confederation of Indian Industries (CII).
The clamour for Mr Modi to be made party’s prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 polls has increased significantly within the BJP.
Touching the sensitive issue of gender discrimination, Mr Modi in his speech said women holds the highest position, highest regard in the country’s cultural tradition.
“We call river Ganga our mother, India is also mother India,” he added.
He also expressed concern over female foeticide.
He said the society has to change its attitude towards women and there was a need to recognise their power.
“Women have proved themselves whenever they are given opportunity. Women are two steps ahead of men. We need to recognise their power,” the Gujarat Chief Minister said.
Speaking about female infanticide, the Gujarat Chief Minister said it was shocking that even in 21st century female infanticide was taking place.
“It takes place even in Gujarat. I was horrified after 2001 census data on female foeticide. Today I see in several states there are no brides for men due to less population of girls,” he said addressing the FICCI Ladies Organisation.
The BJP leader said it was the time to unleash the economic potential to 50 per cent of the population. He appealed to the industry leaders to work in direction of women empowerment.
He said a bill for reservation for women in Gujarat was lying pending with the Governor.
Mr Modi claimed that women have progressed a lot in his state.
The firebrand BJP leader talked about Jassu Ben’s pizza, saying it was more popular than other brands, and leading dairy brand Amul, which is headed by a woman. He termed all this as a classic example of women power.
“Every woman has entrepreneur qualities and values. Women will become stakeholders in decision-making if they are financially independent,” he said in his about 80-minute speech.
Mr Modi said his government levies no stamp duty on any property registered in a woman’s name and in state’s schools, the authorities ask for the mother’s name for the child’s admission, not the father’s.
“We gave houses to those affected by the Gujarat earthquake in the name of the woman in the family,” he added.
Earlier, during Mr Modi’s speech he said this was perhaps his first speech before which he received questions and suggestions from women on social networking sites.
According to FICCI sources, earlier his speech was to be held at FICCI’s head quarter in Delhi but was shifted to a five-star hotel. The hall at FICCI head quarter could accommodate only about 350 people but due to the interest generated, the venue was shifted to hotel with larger accommodation.
Mr Modi has been receiving huge interest in his speeches in the national Capital. He addressed the students at Sri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) in February, followed by a recent media conclave, before addressing the FICCI event.
Several senior BJP leaders have been demanding Mr Modi be made prime ministerial candidate in the next elections. His growing influence within the principal Opposition party was witnessed when BJP chief Rajnath Singh appointed him to parliamentary board, the highest decision making body of the party in March. (UNI)
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