National Commission for Women on Thursday took suo motu cognisance of Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala's statement on actor and BJP MP Hema Malini.
This comes a day after the saffron party accused Surjewala of making "vile, sexist" remarks against its MP, Hema Malini, alleging it shows that the main opposition party is misogynistic and abhors women. BJP's IT department head Amit Malviya shared an 11 second clip on X in which the Congress MP is purportedly making some objectionable remarks about the actor-politician while attacking the ruling party.
Malviya said, "Congress MP Randeep Surjewala makes a vile sexist comment, that is demeaning and derogatory, not just for Hema Malini, who is an accomplished individual, but women in general." He further stated that this is the most disgusting description someone can come up with. "This is Rahul Gandhi's Congress. It is misogynistic and abhors women," he said, sharing the comments of Surjewala. Malini is the BJP Lok Sabha member from Mathura in Uttar Pradesh and is contesting the 2024 general elections from there.
BJP's IT Cell Has Developed Habit Of Spreading Fake News: Surjewala Hits Back
Hitting back at the BJP, Surjewala said that the saffron party and its IT Cell has a habit of of editing, distorting and spreading fake news so that it can distract the country from the Modi government's anti-youth, anti-farmer, anti-poor policies. The Congress leader took to X and shared a 28 second clip from the same event, in which he is purportedly heard saying, "We respect Hema Malini ji because she is married to Dharmendra ji, she is our bahu."
In the post on X, he said, "Listen to the full video - I said, "We also respect Hema Malini a lot because she is married to Dharmendra ji and is our daughter-in-law." BJP's anti-women pawns were ordered to cut this video, but these same pawns never asked the Prime Minister why he - Why was it said "Girlfriend worth Rs 50 crores" in Himachal? Why was a woman MP called “Shurpanakha” in the Parliament? Why was a woman CM trolled in such a vulgar manner? Is it correct to say “Congress's widow”? Is it right to call the top leadership of the Congress a “Jersey cow”?".
"My statement was only that in public life, everyone should be accountable to the people, be it Nayab Saini Ji, or Khattar Ji, or myself," the Congress leader further stated.
Those Who Have Achieved Something Are Targeted: Hema Malini
When asked about Surjewala's remarks against her, Hema Malini said on Thursday that only those people who have achieved something life are targeted. When asked why Congress did not initiate action against its leader, she said, "I don't know. They should learn from our prime minister how to respect women. They should also respect women," as quoted by news agency PTI.
The actor is third-time BJP candidate from Mathura. She further stated, "They should learn how to respect women from PM Narendra Modi," as per a Hindustan Times report.