Bhopal:

In a shocking incident that has sparked outrage, a video showing a woman being brutally assaulted in the Tanda area of Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district has gone viral on social media. The incident depicts bystanders filming the assault instead of intervening to help the victim.

The video, widely shared on various social media platforms, captures the horrifying scene where several men can be seen mercilessly beating the woman with a stick. Instead of coming to her aid, onlookers are seen filming the ordeal.

Upon noticing the alarming video, local authorities swiftly took action. The Dhar police immediately launched an investigation into the matter.

“A video was circulating on social media that shows an unknown man beating a woman. As soon as the video went viral, my team took cognisance of the matter and launched a probe. We found out the area where the incident took place,” stated Manoj Kumar Singh, Dhar Suprintendent of Police.

The police investigation led to the prompt identification and apprehension of the primary suspect involved in the assault. The main accused has been identified as Nirsingh, a resident of Kokri Thana Gandhwani. He has been taken into custody, and efforts are underway to locate and arrest the other individuals seen in the video.

“This act of violence is reprehensible, and we are committed to ensuring justice for the victim,” added Mr Singh.

The incident has gained even more attention as it occurred in the hometown of newly appointed Union Minister Savitri Thakur. While the minister has not issued an official statement, the incident has brought attention to the urgent need for stricter measures to prevent such atrocities against women.

In May, an elderly Dalit couple was allegedly beaten up and made to wear garlands of shoes in Madhya Pradesh’s Ashok Nagar district. The couple’s son had allegedly been involved in an eve-teasing incident, they said.

Bhopal:

Union Minister and BJP leader Savitri Thakur’s attempt to write the slogan  ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ in Hindi on a whiteboard has gone viral for all the wrong reasons. At an event under the ‘School Chalo Abhiyan’ on Wednesday in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar, Ms Thakur spelt the slogan incorrectly, drawing criticism from the Opposition.

Ms Thakur, who serves as the Minister of State for Women and Child Development and is a Lok Sabha member from Dhar, mistakenly wrote “Beddi Padhao Bachao” on a whiteboard.

ये केंद्रीय महिला एवं बाल विकास राज्यमंत्री सावित्री ठाकुर हैं जिले में शिक्षा जागरूकता रथ पर उन्हें ‘बेटी बचाओ बेटी पढ़ाओ’ का स्लोगन लिखना था लेकिन, मंत्रीजी ने लिखा- “बेढी पडाओ बच्चाव” शपथ-पत्र के मुताबिक वे 12वीं पास हैं ये टीप उनके नहीं बल्कि देश के “शैक्षणिक स्तर” पर है pic.twitter.com/v66qM05Uyc

— Anurag Dwary (@Anurag_Dwary) June 19, 2024

The Opposition, particularly the Congress, seized the opportunity to question Ms Thakur’s educational qualifications. Senior Congress leader KK Mishra criticized Thakur’s literacy, terming it a “misfortune of democracy”. According to her affidavit, Ms Thakur has studied till class 12.

“It is the misfortune of democracy that people who hold constitutional posts and are responsible for big departments are not competent even in their mother tongue. How can they be capable of running their ministry?”  Mr Mishra said.

Mr Mishra further suggested amending the Constitution to establish minimum educational qualifications for election candidates. 

“On the one hand, the country’s citizens are being claimed to be literate, while on the other hand, there is lack of literacy among the responsible people. So what is the truth? This is an issue related to the system and not to any individual,” he added. 

Launched in 2015, the ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ is a central government scheme to address declining child sex ratio and women’s education.

Dhar district BJP president Manoj Somani defended Ms Thakur, accusing the Congress of harbouring “petty and anti-tribal thinking.” 

“Savitri ji’s feelings and sentiments are pure, but Congressmen are not able to keep their sentiments pure. The tribal community will not forgive the insult of a tribal woman,” he said.

Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, Umang Singhar, who is also a tribal leader from Dhar, echoed the criticism on social media. Mr Singhar questioned Ms Thakur’s leadership and literacy, suggesting that the incident reflected poorly on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s selection of ministers. 

“What kind of leadership is this? Does Prime Minister Narendra Modi want only rubber stamp ministers in his government? There is no set standard for how a public representative should be, but at least it should be literate,” he said. “It can be understood what the children must have felt when they saw her writing incorrectly. What kind of leadership will she provide in the central government can only be imagined. Voters should have thought before electing such a public representative.”

Mr Singhar claimed that the BJP does not want educated leaders.