Srinagar: People’s Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti on Friday said BJP leaders like Union minister Giriraj Singh want to make India a ‘Kaurav Rajya’ where women are disrespected.
“India is a secular country. It is the country of (Mahatma) Gandhi, who laid down his life for secularism. But leaders like Giriraj Singh want to turn it into ‘Kaurav Rajya’. I am not saying ‘Ram Rajya’, in which the Kauravs stripped Draupadi’s clothes,” Mufti told reporters here.
After Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday triggered a row by pulling the veil off the face of a woman during an event to distribute appointment letters to Ayush doctors in Patna, Giriraj Singh on Thursday defended Kumar and said it is up to the woman to refuse the appointments or “go to hell”.
Linking Singh’s mentality to that of the Kauravs, Mufti said, “There is no respect for women. Draupadi was not a Muslim and was not veiled, yet her clothes were stripped off in public, with Kauravs like Giriraj applauding and laughing. They continue to do the same, so it should not surprise us. I have no expectations from BJP leaders.”
Referring to Nitish Kumar, the PDP chief said he should not have done what he did.
“I am happy that Iltija (Mufti) has lodged a complaint (against Kumar) today,” she said.
