Two new members have been appointed to the National Commission for Women (NCW), both with BJP affiliation, a move which has been criticised by women activists.
Sushma Sahu, former chief of BJP's Bihar Mahila Morcha, and Rekha Sharma, former media in-charge of the party in Haryana, have been appointed to the Commission.
Criticising the move, women activists said accommodating 'political cadre' at such important positions will not solve the purpose.
Ranjana Kumari from the Centre for Social Research said that such "political appointments" would weaken the Commission.
"Such positions are meant to be filled with persons who have expertise in the field. Such persons should show some personal commitment to gender issues," Jagmati Sangwan, General Secretary of All India Democratic Women's Association, said.
"Obliging political leaders and accommodating political cadre in such important organisations will not serve the purpose," she said.
"They are doing this in State Women Commissions as well. They are no different from Congress and repeating the same policy," Sangwan said.
Refuting the charges, newly-appointed NCW member Sahu said that it is her caliber and qualification that have been considered by the party while appointing her as the member of the Commission.
"Party has taken this decision not because we are its activists but due to the qualities and education we have. We fulfil the criterion which the party realised," Sahu said.
Sahu said her focus would be working for under-privileged women. "The present condition of women in Bihar is very bad and cannot be ignored. They have been exploited and there is nobody to listen. Even today they are not allowed to speak. I will try to do my best for these women," she said.
"I have gone through a lot of pain in my life and now I want to be their (women's) voice in the fight for justice, which I could not do to myself," she said.
"Our focus will be to provide platform to all such women who face injustice and violence," newly-elected member Sharma said.
With the new appointments, the Commission now has three members out of five.
