The high-profile Chandigarh stalking case involving son of Haryana’s BJP chief, has dented party’s image, even putting BJP’s commitment towards one of its pet projects “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” campaign under question.
When the stalking incident came to light on August 5, the opposition was quick to launch a fierce attack against BJP and questioned the ruling party’s promises to ensure women safety under its ambitious BBBP campaign.
Under-prepared in the face of such attacks, the BJP-led Central and Haryana Governments faced huge embarrassment as the Chandigarh stalking case triggered nation-wide outrage and a spate of protests, and even its own party leaders demanding resignation of party State chief Subhash Barala.
Political wrangling over the stalking case also echoed in Parliament with opposition accusing the BJP of shielding Subhash Barala’s son Vikas and his friend Ashish Kumar, who were arrested on the charges of stalking and attempting to abduct Varnika Kundu, daughter of Haryana Additional Chief Secretary, IAS VS Kundu.
While the Manohar lal Khattar Government in Haryana continued “defending the indefensible” with claims that BJP and Subhash Barala has nothing to do with the stalking case of his own son, its BBBP campaign became a perennial source for gaffes.
Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flagship “BBBP” scheme which was launched from Haryana’s Panipat, the opposition has coined slogans like “Beta Bachao”, “Beti Bachao, BJP se”, “Beti Uthao, Beta Bachao” after the stalking incident.
Faced with severe criticism, the BJP, on the other hand, has been using all tactics to defend the party. From making sexist comments to a never-ending vitriolic attack on the Congress for rape cases under its regime, bringing up incidents like Ruchika Girhotra case, Jessica lal case and even, maligning the image of complainant Varnika on social media, the ruling leaders attempted everything, but only to be left embarrassed due to foot-in-mouth situations.
The embarrassment for the BJP aggravated all the more following its own Kurukshetra MP Raj Kumar Saini demanding Subhash Barala’s resignation while another party leader Ramveer Bhatti sparked outrage after blaming the complainant girl for “staying out so late in the night”.
This is not the first time that the BJP-led Haryana Government has drawn flak from various quarters on issues related to women safety and their education.
Recently the BJP faced opposition’s ire when Krishi Samvad, a supplement of the monthly Haryana Samvad magazine, published by the Haryana Government, carried a photograph of a woman whose face was covered in a veil.
In the picture, the woman was seen carrying cattle feed on her head and the caption read, “Ghoonghat ki aan-baan, mahra Haryana ki pechchan” (pride of the veil is the identity of my Haryana). The Congress and INlD had alleged that the picture reflected the “regressive” mindset of the BJP dispensation.
In May, a series of protests were witnessed in various parts of Haryana by girl students who were demanding upgradation of their village schools after facing eve-teasing and sexual harassment while commuting to schools in other villages or cities. The protests by girl school students had also hit national headlines and caused a lot of embarrassment to the State Government, which was already under fire in the wake of gang-rape cases in Rohtak and Gurugram at that time.
Earlier this year, Haryana Government also attracted criticism for the loopholes in the implementation of BBBP campaign when the Comptroller and Auditor General had pointed out “diversion of funds” and non-achievement of 100 per cent re-enrolment of dropout girls by Haryana under the ambitious scheme.
While several party leaders acknowledge the fact that the Chandigarh stalking episode has seriously dented BJP’s image, they also feel that party’s intensive campaign regarding their development works in Haryana in past 1000 days will restore people’s faith in BJP.
Notably, the stalking incident occurred at a time when BJP led State Government is celebrating its 1000 days tenure in Haryana and splurging crores of rupees on publicity blitzkrieg in the print and electronic media. The incident which happenedon Friday midnight (August 4-5) also coincided with the concluding day of three-day Haryana’s visit of BJP president Amit Shah, who had exhorted the party workers to disseminate achievements of BJP led Central and Haryana Governments among people.
Currently in damage control mode, Haryana BJP has planned to make all out efforts to reach out to the people and publicize information about the development works carried out by Central and State Governments. This, the party leaders believe would divert public attention to their good works and help in countering opposition’s attack.
On the other hand, the opposition Congress and INlD has continued their tirade against the ruling BJP and its flagship programme BBBP.
Taking a dig at BJP, the leader of opposition in Haryana and INlD’s senior leader Abhay Chautala has said that ruling party is now running ‘Beti Uthao, Beta Bacho’ campaign as they want to save Vikas Barala following his involvement in the stalking case.
Terming the incident as shameful, Haryana Congress chief Ashok Tanwar said that the BJP had coined the slogan Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, but the entire state machinery is now involved in protecting the son of the ruling party leader.
“The incident gives out the true character of BJP which overtly swears by Beti but is covertly working to save the Beta and slander the Beti who is a victim. BJP’s vicious “save the son, slander the daughter” campaign seeks to defame the girl who had the guts to take on the unlawful proclivities of the VIP brat,” said Kiran Choudhry, leader of the Haryana Congress legislature Party.