Although Farooq Abdullah apologised grudgingly over his sexist remark, there have been other incidences of such derogatory remarks by politicians. Here is a peek into the crass mindset.
The day today started with a sexist remark by union minister and senior NC leader Farooq Abdullah saying that he cannot even think of talking to women for the fear of landing in jail. However, he apologized for his statements later on but he remained adamant on the point that he did not mean what media perceived through his statement.
Leaving his grudging apology aside, here are 10 sexist remarks made by politicians over a period of time which exposes their digressed mindset.
1. “100% tanch maal”
Congress leader Digvijay Singh called Rahul Gandhi’s close aide Meenakshi Natarajan a “100% tanch maal” (100% sexy woman) because he was a “purana johari” (experienced jeweler).
2. “Dented and painted women”
Congress MP and President Pranab Mukerjee’s son Abhijit Mukherjee had called women protesting Delhi gangrape “dentedand painted”. He had said that “dented-painted women protesters in Delhi went to discotheques and then turned up at India Gate to express outrage.’’
3. “shaking hips”
Congress MP Sanjay Nirupam had called BJP MP Smriti Irani a woman who used to “shake hips on TV”. He has said, “It’s only four days of your entry into politics and you have become a political analyst. Aap toh TV pe thumke lagati thi, aaj chunavi vishleshak ban gayi (you were shaking your hips on TV, and now you have become a psephologist).’’
4. “Rs 50 crore girlfriend”
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi during an election rally in Himachal Pradesh made a nasty remark about Sunanda Pushkar wife of Congress’ Shashi Tharoor’. He had said, “Wah kya girlfriend hai. Have you ever seen a Rs 50-crore girlfriend?”
5. “rural women are not attractive”
Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, while addressing a public rally in Barabanki, had said, ‘“Only women from the affluent classes can get ahead in life, but remember you rural women will never get a chance because you are not that attractive.’’
6. “women wearing lipstick”
Soon after the 26/11 attacks, senior BJP leader Muqtar Abbas Naqvi had said, “some women wearing lipstick and powder have taken to the streets in Mumbai and are abusing politicians democracy. This is what terrorists are doing in Kashmir.’’
7. “Exposure with no substance”
Congress leader Digvijaya Singh had tweeted that Arvind Kejriwal is like Rakhi Sawant. They both try and expose but with no substance.
8. “Buddhi with no wisdom”
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) boss Raj Thackeray had made a crass remark on Jaya Bachchan after she asked Maharashtrians to excuse her for speaking in Hindi. He had said, “Guddi buddhi zhali pan akal aali nahi.” (Guddi has grown old but has not attained wisdom with age)
9. “old wife with no charm”
After India’s victory over Pakistan in T20 championship, union coal minister Sriprakash Jaiswal said: “as time passes, the joy of the victory fades, just like a wife becomes old and loses her charm.”
10. “Par kati auratein”
Opposing the Women’s Bill in the Lok Sabha, Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav had said that the Bill would only benefit the well-off in the cities, describing well-off women as, ‘‘par kati auratein’ (women with short hair)
