Mulayam Under Fire for Anti-Women Remarks
Following his controversial remarks about the Women’s Reservation Bill, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav have come under heavy attack from political parties, women’s rights groups and also his former party members, said media reports.
At a function in Lucknow on Tuesday, he had said, “I don’t like to say this, but they (those elected due to women’s quota) would be the women like wives and daughters of officers and businessmen, the kind who get whistled at.”
In reaction, Rajya Sabha MP and expelled SP leader Amar Singh insisted that the National Commission for Women take action against Mulayam, said reports.
“His remarks are sexist and I condemn his remarks. His remarks are Talibani, shameful and ridiculous,” Amar was quoted as saying.
Another expelled SP leader and MP Jaya Pradad said that his remarks had hurt sentiments of women, reports said.
“This is male-chauvinism and an effort to suppress women,” she was quoted as saying.
AICC general secretary and In-charge of UP Digvijay Singh also snubbed Mulayam, saying, “Such statements are not expected from a senior leader.”
“If he (Mulayam) had such feelings he should not have fielded his daughter-in-law as a candidate,” he was quoted as saying.
It may be mentioned that Mulayam’s daughter-in-law Dimple unsuccessfully contested a Lok Sabha by-election in Uttar Pradesh last year.
In the meanwhile, the BJP termed Mulayam’s statement as ‘disgusting’, reports said.
“I am astonished that a leader of the stature of Mulayam Singh Yadav could speak like this about women of India in this day and age. A woman is a woman, whatever her background. This is a disgusting statement. Even his own bahu (daughter-in-law) may stop respecting him. He is going the wrong way,” BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman was quoted as saying.
The CPM’s Brinda Karat said, “If there is a logic to his opposition to the bill, he can express it. But precisely because there is no logic to his opposition, he is resorting to such a low level of political debate which is offensive to women.”
(Based on internet reports)
