Local MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal might be taking voters of her constituency for granted while throwing a political challenge at Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi to contest against her from Bathinda parliamentary seat, but the same is not true for the social group of her voters as far as success of the Nanhi Chhaan campaign is concerned.
Claiming to have huge public support ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Harsimrat said, "I alone cannot bring the change. Society needs to support me. No administrator or officer can bring the change until society makes the final push." She said when asked why Bathinda performed worst on improving sex ratio despite the high-profile efforts made by her under the Nanhi Chhaan campaign.
As per the recently-released Primary Census Abstract (PCA), Bathinda had shown a decline of two points in sex ratio from 870 girls to 868 girls per 1,000 male children. It is reportedly worst show by any district in Punjab.
Owning up the discouraging figures, Harsimrat, who launched the Nanhi Chhaan campaign before entering politics and becoming MP from Bathinda in 2009, said, "Of course, declining sex ratio is a thing to worry. I was worried on this issue and this was the reason behind launching the Nanhi Chhaan campaign on large scale."
"It would not be right if I claim that my sole efforts will change Punjab. Single person cannot do anything until society joins the cause. I also need to work hard. Society also needs to double its efforts. When society supports the cause, it takes no time to bring the desirable change," said Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who looks more confident while claiming electoral empowerment of the Shiromani Akali Dal in Bathinda parliamentary constituency for the past five years, since she has been representing it as MP.
{{/usCountry}}"It would not be right if I claim that my sole efforts will change Punjab. Single person cannot do anything until society joins the cause. I also need to work hard. Society also needs to double its efforts. When society supports the cause, it takes no time to bring the desirable change," said Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who looks more confident while claiming electoral empowerment of the Shiromani Akali Dal in Bathinda parliamentary constituency for the past five years, since she has been representing it as MP.
{{/usCountry}}If "most-powerful MP from Punjab" Harsimrat Kaur Badal is to be believed, her demand to frame policies to increase the sex ratio in the state do not make it to the priority list of the government.
"I raise (women-oriented) demands. Final call is to be taken by government as per its priority," said the MP, who moves in her constituency with a large motorcade followed by DCs and SSPs.
"Government frames policies according to its budget and limitations. It is the decision of government if they want to invest on road or infrastructure or schools or hospitals. I used to raise my demands but the final call is taken by the cabinet," said Harsimrat.
When asked if her campaign has become a soft target for the opposition parties, she said, "I always tried to keep Nanhi Chhaan away from politics so that every section of society is mobilised for the cause. If someone is thrown out of her house or if someone is raped, my opponents will attack Nanhi Chhaan. They will do their work and I will do mine."