Senior BJP leader Vinay Katiyar may not be a ‘star’ campaigner for the party in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh but has managed to force his way to the centre stage by triggering a major controversy with his jibe at the Congress’ ‘star campaigner’ Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, saying “there are more beautiful women than her”.
Besides the BJP leader, senior JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav landed himself in a sexist controversy by saying that “the prestige of a vote is bigger than that of a daughter.”
Priyanka condemned Kaityar, and the Congress sought an apology from him. The BJP, wary of ‘hot heads’ in the party making ‘extreme-comments’ and giving ‘political opportunities’ to the Opposition in UP, quickly distanced itself from Katiyar’s comment.
“Nobody is expected to make personal comments, particularly on women. The BJP does not subscribe to it,” Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said regarding Katiyar’s remarks.
“Whoever it is, whether it is Priyankaji or somebody else, it is a different matter. A woman is a woman. We are all political rivals. We are not enemies. We have to respect in order to get respect. All such comments are not acceptable to the party,” he told reporters.
Priyanka lashed out at Katiyar, saying, “If that’s all BJP 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. Because he exposes the BJP’s mindset towards the better half of the population of India!!!.”
Priyanka’s husband Robert Vadra also attacked the BJP leader and demanded that Katiyar publicly apologise for his “misogynistic and atrocious” comments.
Earlier, asked about Priyanka being named as a star campaigner by the Congress for UP polls, Katiyar had said, “It doesn’t matter... there are girls and women who are more beautiful than her and are also star campaigners. Some of them are artistes and heroines...They are more beautiful than her. I think Smriti Irani is beautiful and she is also campaigning.”
The BJP leader, associated in the past with the Ramjanmabhumi movement, said, “I only said beauty does not get votes and what is wrong if someone is beautiful. I respect women and there is no question of apologizing.”
In the recent weeks Priyanka has played a key role in sewing together an alliance between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party for UP Assembly elections.
Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the BJP has “insulted” India’s womanhood and such conduct, behaviour and words prove the BJP’s mentality.
The Congress leader also said that if Modi and Shah have any respect left for women, they should display courage by initiating action against Katiyar for his remarks otherwise women will show their power by voting against the BJP in the upcoming Assembly polls in five States.
Katiyar, later said, “I have huge respect for women...I haven’t said anything wrong. I was only replying to a journalist’s question. Priyanka is like my niece.”
Meanwhile, Sharad Yadav, who made his controversial remarks at a function in Bihar to emphasise the importance of votes, has been sent a notice by the National Commission for Women.
Yadav had in the past come in for criticism over his comments about BJP leader Smriti Irani in Rajya Sabha and also making light of “bal kati” (short-haired) “modern women.”
The JD(U)’s general secretary KC Tyagi reacted saying the party was “sorry” if Yadav’s remarks had hurt anybody. Yadav who was apparently speaking on importance of a vote reportedly compared it to a “woman’s honour”.
“The importance of the ballot paper has to be told to everyone and everywhere ... Vote’s prestige is bigger than the prestige of a daughter. If a daughter’s prestige is compromised, it will only affect a village. But if the vote’s prestige is compromised or sold, then it impacts the entire nation,” Yadav said.
Subhashini Ali, senior CPI(M) leader and All India Democratic Women’s Association president, said politicians needed to be cautious when talking about women.
“Sharad Yadav is a mature politician, but off and on he makes comments like these which reflect his warped understanding of women. Politicians need to exercise great caution while talking about girls and women in this country as they are quite unsafe,” she said.