Gender equality is theme for Women’s Day: WCD

NEW DELHI: Aiming to address gender discrimination, Union Ministry for Women and Child Development (WCD) rejected the extremist approach of feminists and accepted gender equality as theme for International Women's Day this year. The ministry has also launched a ‘We are Equal' campaign with a vision to ensure equal status for women from family to workplace.

“We have shed off the feminist approach as it is divisive and creates a divide among men and women in the society. We aspire to address gender discrimination with the participation of both men and women and the responses are encouraging,” said a senior officer in the ministry of WCD.

The officer also showcased the twitter posts with the handle #We are Equal on which several men have posted prowomen and gender equality messages. A man has posted a picture claiming that the name plate of his bungalow carries his daughter's name.

Also, personalities like Amitabh Bachchan, Dia Mirza, Mary Kom, Sangram Singh, ISRO scientists K Thenmozhi Selvi, Subha Varier & Minal Rohit have come together and wrote supportive messages on placards.

However, the feminists have not let up the fight. “How a man thinks, it's okay to take away a woman's right,” roared a feminist. The feminist activists allege that the campaign is aimed at blunting their movement.

“The campaign takes a positive approach, engaging both men and women across the cross-section of the society and reflects their personal effort at creating an equal society,” said spokesperson of the ministry.

The social media hashtag has reached around 2.6 crore people since its inception in last month. “These posts showcase everyday examples of how men and women are sharing more responsibilities and standing up for equal rights and opportunities,” added the spokesperson. MUMBAI: One person has been detained in Uttar Pradesh in connection with an alleged threat and extortion call received by filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, police said on Thursday.

Based on a complaint registered at Juhu police station here, the anti-extortion cell of the Mumbai Crime Branch has taken over the probe.

The police have identified the culprit, Mumbai Crime Branch DCP Vinay Rathod said.

With the help of Uttar Pradesh Police's Special Task Force, one person has been detained in that state, he added.

“One of our teams is on its way to take custody of the person,” Rathod said.

According to the police, the culprit allegedly made phone calls from Uttar Pradesh to the producer-director recently and also, sent messages to him on Whatsapp demanding about Rs 50 lakh. The caller also threatened to harm Bhatt's daughter actress Alia Bhatt if the demand was not fulfilled.

Subsequently, a case was registered by Juhu Police and the anti-extortion cell of Mumbai Crime Branch launched a probe.

“A bolt from the blue in the form of an extortion call & threat to my family was nipped in the bud by the MH & UP police in tandem.gratitude! (sic)” Bhatt tweeted.

The veteran filmmaker has made several award-winning and critically acclaimed films such as ‘Saaransh', ‘Arth', ‘Naam', ‘Kaash', ‘Daddy', ‘Aashiqui', ‘Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin' and ‘Zakhm' among others.

His daughters Pooja Bhatt and Alia have acted in a number of popular Bollywood films.