A brother’s responsibility towards his sister must go beyond protection to include respect for her choices, dreams and freedom, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said on Tuesday in her message on Bhai Dooj.
She called women’s safety, dignity and self-reliance essential to building a strong society.
Extending greetings to people across Delhi, the Chief Minister said the festival celebrated the enduring bond between brothers and sisters, built on affection, trust and the promise to stand by each other through life.
But she added that the relationship also carried a broader message of mutual respect and sensitivity within families.
The Chief Minister said the traditional mark a sister applies to her brother’s forehead expressed her wishes for his long life, happiness and prosperity.
The festival, she said, brought together childhood memories, playful disagreements and the assurance of support in difficult times.
She said the value of the relationship could not be measured through expensive gifts. Affection, respect and understanding were more important to keeping family bonds strong.
The Chief Minister placed particular emphasis on the rights and opportunities available to women, saying that a brother’s role should not be confined to protecting his sister. Respecting her self-respect, independence, aspirations, and rights was equally important. “A strong society is one where every daughter and sister receives a safe environment, equal opportunities, and the complete right to progress,” she said.
The Chief Minister said women’s empowerment, security and self-reliance were important to achieving the goal of a developed India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. She linked the values celebrated during Bhai Dooj to the broader need for affection within families and sensitivity and mutual respect in society. Her message placed the festival’s traditional celebration of sibling affection alongside the importance of creating conditions in which women can pursue their ambitions and make their own choices.