Beyond brotherhood: Why Congress leaders celebrated Raksha Bandhan with sex workers in Mumbai

On the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, the Congress party organised a unique event in Mumbai on Saturday for women who are often not given the respect they deserve in society.

The party leaders celebrated Raksha Bandhan with sex workers to send out a message of dignity and inclusiveness.

"There is a relationship on the holy occasion of Raksha Bandhan; there is a relationship between brother and sister, brother protects his sister. We conducted a unique event here today to connect such women who are not given their due respect and identity by society to the mainstream,” Congress general secretary Bhanwar Jitendra Singh told the ANI news agency.

Singh said the party wants to convey a message that people are compelled to take on this job out of helplessness due to extreme poverty.

“If we want to bring a smile to their faces and make them happy, then we can provide them money for the school fees of their children, and we can honour them. There can be nothing bigger than this for a brother and a sister. I would want this programme to be done across the country," he said.

Nitish ties rakhi to tree

Meanwhile, in another unique gesture, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar tied a rakhi to a tree on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan and 'Bihar Tree Protection Day' at Rajdhani Vatika in Patna. 

Tree plantation is extremely essential to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change, the chief minister said, adding that a tree plantation drive was conducted at the venue. 

"On the occasion of Raksha Bandhan and 'Bihar Tree Protection Day,' a Raksha Sutra (protective thread) was tied to a tree today at Rajdhani Vatika in Patna. Additionally, on this occasion, tree plantation was also carried out at Rajdhani Vatika,” he said.