Mumbai: State Women and Child Development Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha has proposed, in a letter written on Wednesday to his department's principal secretary, to use "Ganga Bhagirathi" to refer to widows in a bid to offer them respect.
The proposal, however, drew flak from the Congress and the NCP, following which the minister issued a video statement, in which he said the move was only under consideration and no action has been taken in this direction.
While the opposition parties in Maharashtra have objected to the state government's proposal to use "Ganga Bhagirathi" word to refer to widows in a bid to offer them respect, the chief of the state women's commission Rupali Chakankar has welcomed the move, saying it would help empower women.
However, slamming the idea, the Maharashtra Congress had said it revealed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s "Manuvadi" thought process and was the party's attempt to demean widows.
State Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe said minister Lodha was a "kalank" (blot) on progressive Maharashtra and must apologise to women.
Terming the decision as painful, NCP's Supriya Sule said it must be scrapped immediately. (with Agency inputs)
