Uttarakhand minister for Women Empowerment and Child Development Rekha Arya sparked controversy with her recent order that all district officials and employees of her department, anganwadi and mini-anganwadi workers and assistants should perform ‘jalabhisheka’ at Shiv temples near their homes on July 26 to “undertake a commitment to improve Uttarakhand’s skewed sex ratio”.
She further directed officials to send their selfies of the same on the official e-mail and WhatsApp groups.
In her order, Arya had stated that ‘jalabhisheka’ be performed as part of the ‘Azaadi ka Amrit Mahotsava’ programme announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Arya also stated that the Mahotsava was being celebrated under the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ programme, launched by the Union government in 2015.
She said a ‘Kanwar yatra’ with the message, “Mujhe bhi janam lene do, Shiv ke maah mein Shakti ka sankalp hai” has been planned as part of this programme in which all government officials and workers under her ministry are required to participate.
This letter became viral after which the opposition raised questions on the government.
Congress state president Karan Mahara has written a letter to CM Pushkar Singh Dhami demanding a ban on such an order at the government level.
After the controversy escalated, Arya clarified that no one has been asked to forcefully perform Jalabhishek. It just depends on their wish.
