Rivals squirm as ramp savvy Raje scores with UN award

Jaipur, Apr 28 (UNI) Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has scored over her rivals again in the political arena by not only winning a special UN award but also dedicating it to grassroot weavers, thus making her opponents squirm for ridiculing her ramp walk earlier.

The stylish chief minister, who received much flak for her ramp walk in Bangalore and later in Jaipur for promoting Khadi last year, remained unnerved during the controversy and in turn criticised Congress for not doing enough to uplift the work of weaving and spinning especially in Khaitoon in Kota district.

The UN 'International Women Together Award' for promoting state weavers especially in Kota Doria and Khadi, besides being good publicity for the chief minister, has come as a shot in the arm for the BJP, whose few leaders had reservations about Madame's ramp walk, although they refrained saying anything publicly.

Politically astute, Raje seized the moment by dedicating this award to weavers and spinners and promised that her government was committed to improve the status of Kota Doria weavers and the spinning community.

A master in sensing the public mood, Raje told the admiring weavers, whom she visited yesterday in Kaithoon, that she could have gone to get the award directly in New York on May 14 but it would have been in vain if she did not meet the people first who are responsible for her getting this award.

Displaying her innate political sense, she said the weavers deserved the award and donated Rs four lakh cheque to the weavers association.

Taking a dig at her opponents, Raje said she was targeted unnecessarily for her ramp walk in Bangalore when her only intention was to promote Khadi, weaved by grassroot weavers.

Raje said her efforts to promote khadi has at least been recognised internationally, although she was criticised back home but only for political gains. She also promised to wear a Kota Doria saree, made by weavers at the award function in US. The Congress has been left gaping with the award and are on the backfoot now, asking whether this award will indeed increase the sale of Khadi.

The Congress spokesman Dr Param, told UNI the award means nothing, anybody who sends a resume can get such awards. ''When she walked on the ramp, 14 districts were facing drought, then there was flood but she never visited these places. For drought and flood relief, the BJP government depended solely on Central relief,'' she added.

With the prestigious award in her kitty, Raje seems to have an upperhand, making her rival eat their own words.

UNI