Meghalaya elections 2018: Free sanitary napkins for women if voted to power, says Mahila Congress

"After the (2012) Nirbhaya case, we changed a lot of laws, but the recent NCRB data shows crime against women has still gone up," she said, adding that 60 per cent of the Nirbhaya fund was lying "unus

Shillong, February 19: Congress promised free sanitary napkins to women if they are voted to power in Meghalaya, said All India Congress Committee (AICC) Mahila president Sushmita Dev on Monday. The state will go to polls on February 27. Dev said she had urged the Centre and the finance minister to exempt GST on sanitary napkins.

"If the price is subsidised, it becomes a product that is affordable in the rural market, so private companies take it there," she said. Dev claimed the BJP will not win a single seat in Meghalaya, and its similar promise of free sanitary napkins will not happen. She accused the saffron party of not being serious about the security of women.

"After the (2012) Nirbhaya case, we changed a lot of laws, but the recent NCRB data shows crime against women has still gone up," she said, adding that 60 per cent of the Nirbhaya fund was lying "unused".

Dev also took a jibe at Union Minister Smriti Irani who campaigned in Shillong on Saturday. "We need to ask a lot of questions on the leaders of the BJP who are coming to Meghalaya and talking about the security of women," she added.

PTI