Smriti Irani slams Rahul over tweet on SC ruling on women Army officers

Union Textile Minister Smriti Irani on Tuesday (February 18) took a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his tweet on the Supreme Court ruling in favour of women officers to be granted command positions in the Indian Army.

Gandhi’s tweet came hours after the apex court criticised the Centre for “disrespecting” women officers by objecting their rights.

Related news: Women officers for command roles in Army: SC says ‘forward march’

“The Govt disrespected every Indian woman, by arguing in the SC that women Army officers didn’t deserve command posts or permanent service because they were inferior to men. I congratulate India’s women for standing up & proving the BJP Govt wrong,” he tweeted.

The Govt disrespected every Indian woman, by arguing in the SC that women Army officers didn’t deserve command posts or permanent service because they were inferior to men.

I congratulate India’s women for standing up & proving the BJP Govt wrong. https://t.co/B67u5VNkrK

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 17, 2020

However, the BJP leader, in her quick response, took a jibe and called him, “Begani shaadi mein Abdullah deewana (Unrelated person getting too involved in somebody else’s marriage),” while asking him to get his facts right before tweeting.

Related news: SC decision on women officers an instrument of social change

The Union Minister for Women and Child development also accused the opposition for twiddling “its thumbs” on the issue. “It was PM Modi who announced Permanent Commission for Women in Armed Forces, thereby ensuring gender justice,” she added in her tweet.

आदरणीय बेगानी शादी में अब्दुल्ला दीवाने,

It was PM @narendramodi Ji who announced Permanent Commission for Women in Armed Forces, thereby ensuring gender justice & @BJPMahilaMorcha took up this issue when your Govt. twiddled its thumbs. Tweet से पहले टीम को बोलो check kare ? https://t.co/DQhm3tRc0g

— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) February 17, 2020

The top court on Monday (February 16) in a landmark judgement directed that women army officers, serving under Short Service Commission, be considered for grant of Permanent Commission, irrespective of tenure of service, and also for command posts in non-combat areas since “an absolute bar on women seeking criteria or command appointments would not comport with the guarantee of equality under Article 14”.

Related news: Women in Army can be commanding officers now: All you need to know

The case, which was first filed in the Delhi High Court by women officers in 2003, received a favourable order in 2010. However, it was never implemented and was later challenged in the Supreme Court by the government.

During the hearing, the government came up with a proposal whereby women officers of up to 14 years of service would be granted permanent commission in line with the letter of February 2019.