J&K Separatist Asiya Andrabi On Beti Bachao Poster; Probe Ordered

According to reports, Child Development Officer Shameema Akhter was suspended for the goof-up.

Andrabi (fourth from top – next to Mother Teresa) is the pro-Pakistan chief of ‘Dukhtaran-e-Millat’ (daughters of the nation) organisation.

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter)

The Jammu and Kashmir government has ordered a probe into a ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ campaign poster featuring, among women achievers, the name and photograph of separatist Asiya Andrabi, reported the Hindustan Times.

The poster featured Andrabi, the head of the pro-Pakistan Dukhtaran-e-Millat organisation, along with the likes of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Mother Teresa.

The poster of the government campaign was function was displayed at a state tourism department event held to promote women’s education in South Kashmir’s Kokernag area on 11 October.

On Wednesday, 11 October, Child Development Officer Shameema Akhter was suspended for the incident as per a circular issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Anantnag, reported the Hindustan Times.

BJP spokesman Sunil Sethi had earlier demanded that those responsible for this should be hauled up.

As per the report, Akhter justified the goof-up saying that Andrabi’s name and photo were used “only in her capacity as a religious leader.” Akhter also reportedly claimed that it was the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) that made the poster.

The HT report quotes ICDS minister Asiya Naqash as saying that she wasn’t aware of the error in the poster and “... came to know only through Hindustan Times.” “I will enquire and gather facts. Only then I will react,” Naqash told HT.

Andrabi is currently in jail under Public Safety Act for her separatist activities.

She has had several cases registered against her including some for hoisting Pakistani flag on 14 August and 23 March — the Independence Day and National Day of Pakistan, respectively.

Twitter users were quick to react to the goof-up on the poster.

(With inputs from PTI, HT)

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