Belagavi: Why BJP chose Old person as CM; Girl puts Smriti in spot

Mangalore Today News Network

Belagavi, April 29, 2018 (DHNS): Union Minister for Information, Broadcasting and Textiles Smriti Irani faced tricky questions from young students during ‘Karunadu Mahila Jagruti Samavesha,’ an interaction programme in Belagavi on Saturday.

One of the participants, a girl, put the minister in a spot of bother, asking, "Why the BJP had chosen an old person like B S Yeddyurappa as the chief ministerial candidate when youth in large numbers were supporting the party?

Smriti, who was visibly taken aback, posed back a question to the girl, asking whether the government-led by Akhilesh Yadav, an youngster, delivered in Uttar Pradesh? Is not Siddaramaiah old or Rahul Gandhi old? she asked. The post of chief minister requires a person who has all the experience in leading the state while defending the party nominee to the post.

On a question related to the discrimination in degree of punishment for a person who has raped an adult and one who has raped a child, Irani took credit to the BJP government for bringing in harsher punishment to those who rape children below 12 years of age but did not address the core issue.

On another question over ATMs going cashless, Irani said rumour-mongers were spreading false news in this regard. Pictures taken in the immediate aftermath of demonetisation were being published. She said some people were hoarding cash in the backdrop of the elections.

Irani grabbed the opportunity to ridicule Congress president Rahul Gandhi while answering a question on GST. Irani cross-questioned as to whether Gandhi knew about GST. It was in the GST Council that all parties, including Congress and its allies, had given consent to the GST. Rahul keeps making such goof-ups which is a hallmark of his life. Congress was spreading fallacy over GST, she said.

BJP Mahila Morcha state president Bharati Shetty, MP Suresh Angadi and Rajya Sabha member Prabhakar Kore were present.