On a day when politicians in Uttar Pradesh are in the news for all the wrong reasons, independent journalist Tavleen Singh Aroor spoke to the Congress' Priyanka Gandhi. Priyanka in the conversation reacted to the sexist comments made about her. Read Tavleen's report.
For journalists covering the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, Wednesday morning started with BJP leader Vinay Katiyar's misogynistic attack on Congress' star campaigner – Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
Kanpur BJP leader Vinay Katiyar said there were “prettier” campaigners in the BJP than Priyanka, and that she wasn't even beautiful. As with every other election, this time too, inappropriate statements by leaders from various political parties are beginning to take centrestage.
Usually one to stay away from the media, this time, Priyanka Gandhi chose to speak.
In an exclusive chat with me, Priyanka laughed at the comment made by the BJP leader and said,
“He's right, they do. And if that’s all he sees in my colleagues who are each strong, brave and beautiful women who have battled through all sorts of hardships to get where they are, then he makes me laugh even more. He exposes the BJP's mindset towards the better half of the population of India,” she said.
Vinay Katiyar is another addition to the list of politicians cutting across party lines, who have made sexist remarks in the past and continue to do so.
What is ironic is that Katiyar made the comment in reaction to JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav's shocking comment on women.
The (un)wise Yadav said, "If a daughter's honour is violated, her neighbourhood and her village lose their honour, but if a vote is sold, it is the country's honour that goes.”
There is no lack of issues this election, issues faced by the common man. But leaders are colouring the campaign season with their usual hypocrisy and sexism.
Perhaps this is a good time to remind Yadav and Katiyar that there are women in their own parties too who come under such attack, and their comments demeaning women add no confidence to their own women leaders.
Or maybe, it is time for women leaders in every party to take a stand, not just against people in other parties, but the misogynists in their circles too.