BJP national president Amit Shah on Friday backed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue of women’s equality, saying that the NDA Government was firm in his belief that all women in India, irrespective of religion, should be equally empowered.
Shah also said that one should not hide under the cloak of freedom of expression to take potshots at India. “During the triple talaq issue, our Government did not dither or hesitate because all women in our country, irrespective of any religion, have been given the right under the constitution to safety,” Shah said.
The BJP national president was speaking at the India Ideas Conclave, which got underway on Friday at a South Goa resort in Canacona village.
“In the past we have witnessed political parties scamper away especially when it came to the issue of equality among women. This Government is of the firm belief that the rights and equality of women needs to be protected, despite any opposition to it. Our Government is firm on this,” Shah also said, adding that transformation in the Modi-led NDA regime was all about taking decisions which were “courageous” and “historic”.
Shah also said that politicians, including Modi should be ready to face criticism, but added that no one should be allowed to criticise the country, especially under the guise of freedom of expression.
“One must accept criticism and tolerate it. But then going a step ahead and being critical of Modi to oppose the country, this is not real freedom of expression,” Shah said, adding that the Prime Minister was perhaps one of the most criticised leaders in the post independence era, by a certain section of the population.
“You can criticise any political leader in the country, but no one can oppose the country itself. One can criticise the existing policies, but if you want to camouflage the criticism of the country, in the guise of freedom of expression, the country will not accept it,” Shah added.
Shah also said that for the past Government’s the word 'reform’ was reduced a fashion, where one never went beyond the mere word and paid lip-service to it. But the scenario had changed under Modi, he said.
“Reform had become a fashionable word and no one would think beyond just the word itself. But under Narendra bhai, we went ahead of just reforms. PM Modi has attempted to trigger a transformation in India. He has changed the very mind-set of the country and we can see the results of the change today. We can witness the transformation on ground,” Shah said.