New Delhi: Terming as ‘utterly sexist’ and ‘downright distasteful’ Prime Minister Narendra modi’s comment against Congress Rajya sabha MP Renuka Chowdhury during his reply in the Upper house on Wednesday to the debate on the motion of thanks to the President’s address, All India Mahila Congress chief Sushmita Dev on Thursday demanded an apology from the PM for his remarks.‘’ To my mind, Mr Narendra Modi should apologize to Mrs. Renuka Chowdhury and the nation for speaking in a manner which encourages disrespectful behavior towards women.,’’Ms Dev said in a statement.
She said Mr Modi ‘s remarks belittled the office of the PM and amounted to an insult to each and every woman in the country.‘’I express my shock at the utterly sexist and downright distasteful comment against a Member of Parliament, made by none less than the Prime Minister of India. I personally feel that this attitude and comment in the Upper House of Parliament directed at Mrs Renuka Chowdhury, belittles the office of the PM and amounts to an insult to each and every woman in the country,’’Mr Dev said.Terming the remarks as ‘extremely unfortunate’, Ms Dev said the remarks were in line with the RSS’ thought process that militates against the very idea of an equal position for women in the society.
‘’It does not come as a surprise to me that such comments are coming from a PM who has never understood the role a woman plays as an equal partner in society.The RSS’ thought process itself militates against the very idea of an equal position for women in the society. RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat is on record saying that ‘women should restrict themselves to doing household chores’ (sic). It is this RSS training, as a Pracharak that reflects in the PM's attitude and comments,’’she said.In this context, she also referred to the PM’s .comments on Congress leader Shashi Tharoor’s wife as also the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
‘’His (PM) track record as a public figure is dotted with shameful misogynist remarks like -“It is heartening that Prime Minister of Bangladesh despite the fact that she is a woman is openly saying that she has zero tolerance for terrorism” in the context of Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, referring to Dr Tharoor’s late wife as “50 crore ki girlfriend” and ‘Gujarat has more malnutrition because of its figure conscious girls’ (sic). Further, the allegations of snooping on a young girl, using state machinery in Gujarat will perpetually haunt Mr Narendra Modi throughout his political career,’’Ms Dev said.(UNI)