Pointing out at the decline in the sex ratio in Bathinda, Punjab Congress on Monday dubbed the much-hyped Nanhi Chhaan project of local MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal as a political campaign. Congress asked the Bathinda MP “to explain to her electorate why the sex ratio has dropped in her district”. Besides, it has also sought explanation from Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal “for the dismal figures in his home district—Muktsar”.
“The decline in Bathinda’s sex ratio goes on to prove that Nanhi Chhaan is less of a fight against female foeticide and more of a political campaign for Harsimrat’s image makeover,” said Punjab Congress spokesperson Sukhpal Singh Khaira.
He pointed that as per the recently released Primary Census Abstract (PCA) 2011, Punjab has a sex ratio of 895 girls against 1000 males as compared to 876 in 2001 — a gain of 19 points. “Though it is yet 48 points less than the national average of 943,” he added. “But what is most disappointing and alarming are the figures of Bathinda district, which has recorded sex ratio as 870 to 868 girls per 1000 males.