Patna: Former Union Minister Smriti Irani on Tuesday held a press conference in Patna, where she strongly criticised the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and its leader Tejashwi Yadav. She said the RJD is “anti-women” and that the women of Bihar will not be misled by its political tricks. Irani said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the NDA government has worked to give women self-respect, economic strength, and a place in the mainstream of society. “The women of Bihar know who has worked for them. They will not accept the RJD’s rhetoric,” she said.
Irani praised the Modi government for its various welfare schemes that have benefited millions of women across Bihar. She said that through the Jan Dhan Yojana, more than three crore women were able to open bank accounts and become financially independent. She also mentioned the Ujjwala Yojana, under which over one crore women received free gas cylinders, helping them live healthier and smoke-free lives. “The double-engine government of the Centre and Bihar has changed the lives of women by ensuring toilets for safety and gas cylinders for comfort,” she said.
The BJP leader further added that more than 1.1 million women’s self-help groups in Bihar were strengthened through government schemes like Jeevika, and that Rs 10,000 was directly transferred to women’s bank accounts to support small businesses. She called these efforts a major step towards women’s empowerment, saying that the NDA government has created real change instead of making empty promises. “The NDA has also given women 33 percent reservation, a historic decision that has brought justice and equality,” she said.
Reacting to Tejashwi Yadav’s recent statements, Irani said that the RJD’s actions show its anti-women mindset. She accused RJD leaders of writing to the Election Commission to stop funding that helps women become economically independent. “It is painful that RJD leaders want to take away support from poor women,” she said. Irani urged women across Bihar to stand firmly with the NDA, saying that only the Modi government has truly worked for their dignity and empowerment. She concluded by appealing to voters to re-elect the NDA so that Bihar can continue to move forward with self-respect and development.
