Click to play videoNew Delhi: In a shocking incident scores of young women were allegedly subjected to virginity tests by the administration in Madhya Pradesh.
The young women were to get married under the Kanya Daan scheme in which mass marriages are performed by the Madhya Pradesh government.
It is a scheme on which Shivraj Singh Chauhan rode to poll victory. But now the scheme is gripped by a potentially crushing scandal after the brides were allegedly tested for virginity and 12 prospective brides were rejected after the tests.
"About 10-12 tested positive for pregnancy. They were sent to the SDM," said Dr Reena Gautam, who allegedly carried out the tests.
"The scheme is meant for unmarried, for poor family girls, single adults, divorcees and also widow. Testing them for virginity cannot be more demeaning," Congress MP Santosh Bagrodia said in Rajya Sabha on Monday.
Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijay Singh said the government was wrong in carrying out such tests.
"I have written a letter to the Chief Minister. They have no right to do this kind of virginity test on young girls," said Singh.
The National Commission for Women has demanded a report from Madhya Pradesh government. But Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan squarely denied the virginity tests.
"I had ordered an investigation. No virginity test was done," claimed Chauhan.
Routine tests or not, the allegations could seriously affect the image of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state, which now runs the risk of being regressive.
The episode is also likely hurt Chauhan's image as the 'Uncle' of all girls in the state.
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