Remove gender bias if reports were true: Cong tells Defence

New Delhi, June 23 (UNI) The Congress today said the armed forces should immediately remove gender bias if news reports in this connection were true.

''It is a wrong practice if the reports about gender bias are right. In that case, we will call upon the armed forces to correct it,'' party spokesperson Jayanti Natarajan told reporters.

A national daily today carried a report that women officers in the Army were not getting equal pay and perks even after being promoted to corresponding posts and ranks held by men.

Asked about the Congress reaction to reports that Railway Minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad made a cash payment of Rs 10 lakh to a five star hotel here after his daughter's marriage, she pleaded her ignorance over the issue. She gave a similar response to a query relating to Mr Lalu changing the platform of a train in Patna at the last moment.

Ms Natarajan also refused to take specific questions relating to indiscipline in the party in various states, stating that internal party matters could not be discussed with the media.

However, she said such developments were inevitable in a party which had a democratic set-up and a history of over 100 years.

Nevertheless, she expressed the confidence that the Congress would put up a united fight in the coming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Punjab.

UNI SN VD VV1735