Politicians who have been in trouble for making sexist remarks

On Monday, Somnath Bharti came up with an extremely sexist remark. But he is not alone. This is how our politicians talk about women in India.

Somnath Bharti
Somnath Bharti

Lately, India is in a banning spree, but we can't put a ban on patriarchy, on sexual discrimination, or on sexual harassment. Women are stripped off their dignity -, be it an IAS officer standing in court or an ordinary woman walking on the roads. Things worsen when our law makers, leaders and politicians pass derogatory comments about women. 

Very recently, Somnath Bharti, a prominent member of AAP, was criticised for making a sexist comment during a discussion on setting up of 'Commission of Inquiry'. He said, "I am fully confident that if Delhi government is given full freedom (over security), beautiful women will be able to go out even after midnight without any fear. We will provide a fully-secure Delhi,"

Let's look at some other politicians who were firmly condemned for making sexist comments. 

Narendra Modi

Photo: defenceportal.in

Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, during his recent Bangladesh visit, applauded his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina for her zero tolerance against terrorism by emphasizing on her gender, by saying "despite being a woman"

Giriraj Singh

Photo: indiatoday.in

Giriraj Singh, Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises came up with an utterly sexist and racist remark, "If Rajiv Gandhi had married a Nigerian lady and not a white-skinned woman, then would the Congress have accepted her (Sonia Gandhi) leadership?"

Lalu Prasad Yadav

Photo: indiatoday.in

In an attempt to criticise Mr. Giriraj Singh, Lalu Prasad Yadav, came up with another sexist comment. "He should be made to wear bangles, vermilion, bindi, and his face should be blackened as he has crossed the limit of indecency," said the former union minister.

Shriprakash Jaiswal

Photo: indiatoday.in

Shriprakash Jaiswal, ex - Coal Minister, while celebrating India's victory against Pakistan in the World T20 championship 2012, said new victory and new wedding, are similar. In his opinion, as time passes "wife also becomes old, that charm does not sustain", just like the victory will be forgotten.

Farooq Abdullah

Photo: indiatoday.in

Farooq Abdullah, ex - Minister of New and Renewable Energy, invited trouble with his sexist remark in a public meeting concerned about sexual harassment. He said, "I'm scared to talk to a woman these days. I don't even want to keep a female secretary. Who knows, I might end up in jail because of a complaint." He later apologized for his comment saying he was not blaming women, but the society.

Abhijit Mukherjee

Photo: indiatoday.in

Abhijit Mukherjee, President Pranab Mukherjee's son and a Congress MP commented on the Delhi protests against Nirbhaya rape case: "dented-painted women protesters in Delhi went to discotheques and then turned up at India Gate to express outrage."

Swapan Debnath

Photo: indiatoday.in

"They have often torn their own blouse and claimed they were assaulted," Swapan Debnath, the state minister in charge of small industries and textiles, West Bengal not only landed him in trouble but the entire TMC party was rebuked.

Sharad Yadav

Photo: indiatoday.in

"The body of women from south is as good as beautiful they are. They (women) in our region are not that good as those (in south) know dancing."  Janata Dal (United) chief Sharad Yadav was heard uttering this sexist and equally racist remark during a debate on Insurance Bill in Rajya Sabha.

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