Congress’s Bihar unit has launched a drive to distribute free sanitary napkins to 5 lakh women across the state, but the move has sparked a fresh political controversy. The packs prominently feature Rahul Gandhi’s photograph, prompting strong objections from the NDA camp. JDU MLC Neeraj Kumar criticized the inclusion of Gandhi’s image, accusing the Congress of employing “lumpen politics” and disrespecting women’s dignity. BJP spokesperson Kuntal Krishna echoed the sentiment, arguing that while the state government—led by Nitish Kumar,has championed women’s empowerment, Congress resorts to such tactics to gain political mileage. In defense, Mahila Congress chief Alka Lamba slammed the backlash, saying the real question is why so many women in Bihar still endure menstrual hardship—“why our daughters are forced to use cloth and fall ill”,and accused the BJP of having an anti-women mindset .

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