Chandigarh, Feb 18, 2020 (Yes Punjab News)
Hailing Supreme Court decision to grant Permanent Commission to women Army officers, the Bharatiya Janata Party today condemned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Tweet holding Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government responsible for the anomaly.
Terming the decision as progressive, historic and a welcome step, Tarun Chugh, the national secretary of the BJP, said the verdict has paved way for equal opportunities in the Army.
Ridiculing Rahul for his immaturity, Chugh said the statement in the form of a Tweet was childish and condemnable. He reminded Rahul that it was during Congress regime, that the Union Government challenged the March 12, 2010 High Court decision to grant permanent commission to women officers of the Army. “It was your government which opposed the HC decision and knocked the door of Supreme Court in July, 2010 asking the apex court to turn down the HC verdict,” he said.
Chugh said though everybody had a right to welcome the SC decision, it was strange that Rahul chose to criticize the NDA government on the issue.
The BJP leader recalled that senior party leader and spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi had filed a counter affidavit in the SC in February 2011 but the Congress government went ahead and filed a rejoined in April 2011 followed by an additional affidavit in informing the court that a high-level tri-services committee formed by the government has taken a decision not to grant permanent commission to women officers. “Do I need to remind Rahul, who was at helm of affairs between the years 2010 to 2012”, Chugh said.
Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his efforts to provide a level playing field and equal opportunities to women army officers, Chugh expressed his gratitude towards the bench of Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice Ajay Rastogi who delivered a historic judgement.
Chugh said it was sad as to how Rahul, whose party didn’t miss a chance to oppose the move, not only hailed the SC decision but chose to criticize the present government just to score some brownie points.
Trying to set the record straight, Chugh said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government, in May 2018, filed an affidavit in the SC, giving its consent to grant permanent commission to women army officers. He also reminded Rahul that Prime Minister Modi, in his August 15, 2018 speech from the ramparts of Red Fort had advocated grant of permanent commission to women army officers.
“It was the Modi government, on February 25, 2019 formed a policy regarding the issue, paving way to give permanent commission to women officers in 10 departments. The SC bench, in its decision, has appreciated the fact,” he claimed.
“Rahul’s Tweet is nothing but yet another lie by the Congress leader,” Chugh said.
