JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav on Friday refused to apologise for his comments about south Indian women, which have sparked widespread outrage amongst other politicians and women’s rights activists. Yadav, a best Parliamentarian awardee, said he was only underscoring the social and cultural bias in favour of people with white skin.
“Why should I apologiseIJ I will make them understand what I meant. Do you think I said anything wrongIJ” Yadav said when asked to react about the outrage over his remarks in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday evening. His comments have drawn all-round condemnation from the Opposition Congress and the ruling BJP who termed it as ‘appalling’, ‘racist’ and ‘misogynistic’. Woman rights activist had also criticised his remarks saying he should avoid making such statements as he is a representative of the people. His comments have been sharply criticised on social media as sexist.
JD(U) spokesperson KC Tyagi, though, offered his party’s apology and said if Yadav’s comments hurt any women his party was sorry for it. “There was no opposition and I didn’t say any such thing. In the entire country, wherever men or women are giving training in dance, their figure improves. In the south, there is a huge tradition of dance, art and music, that is why their figure is good,” Yadav defended.
In past too Yadav stoke controversy when he had used the term “parkati auratein (short-haired women)” to argue against the Women’s Quota Bill. DMK MP Kanimozhi had objected to his remark, but the senior parliamentarian justified the statement saying there was no harm in some non-serious discussion. While Congress leader Rajiv Shukla demanded an apology from Yadav, party spokeperson Shoba Oza requested all elected representatives to speak about women with dignity and honour and not pass any loose comments.