BJP women ministers, MPs to visit borders on Raksha Bandhan

New Delhi, Aug 10 (IANS) The BJP leadership has asked all its women ministers and Members of Parliament to visit border areas and celebrate Raksha Bandhan on August 18 with soldiers by tying them 'rakhis'.

The initiative taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seen as an attempt to reach out to the soldiers guarding India's borders.

According to available information, Textiles Minister Smriti Irani will visit Siachin to celebrate the occasion while Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel will visit the Jaisalmer border in Rajasthan.

Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi is expected to visit Punjab.

The BJP has already announced a nationwide programme between August 9 and 23 to celebrate 70 years of India's Independence.

Party MPs have been asked to visit the birthplaces of freedom fighters and hold 'Tiranga Yatras'.