In Madhya Pradesh, slugfest between BJP and Congress over Operation Sindoor

Prime Minister addressed a huge women rally at Bhopal attacking Pakistan

- BY L S HERDENIA

The BJP organised an impressive show of strength in Bhopal on May 31 in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The event, christened Lokmata Devi Ahilyabai Mahila Sashaktikaran Mahasam-melan (Ahilyabai Women Empowerment Conference), was supposed to celebrate the 300th birth anniversary of Ahilyabai Holkar, an 18th-century Maratha woman ruler of the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh. She was known for her administrative skills and courage and the event was meant to project her as symbol of women empowerment.

However, the all-women event turned into another round of chest-thumping by Prime Minister Modi for the success of Operation Sindoor. More than 1.5 lakh women from different parts of the state attended the session, most wearing Sindoori (vermillion-coloured) sarees.

Interestingly, on the same day, at Jabalpur, 300 km from Bhopal, top state Congress leaders gathered to question the Central Government on the Indo-Pak conflict.