Sexist netas: Times when politicians made derogatory comments about women

New Delhi: Recently, Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav said something which racked up controversy. He said honour of vote is important than that of daughter’s. “Honour of vote is bigger and important than honour of daughter. If daughter’s honour is compromised, it only affects the village or community but if the vote’s honour is compromised, it impacts the entire nation,” Yadav said. However, this is not the first and only time when a politician made a derogatory comment about the fairer sex. When it comes to insulting women, politicians cutting across all political lines make such comments which insult the dignity of women. Here are some of the sexist netas who have made such comments:

• Vinay Katiyar

File photo: PTI Priyanka Gandhi Vadra not that pretty. There are other campaigners who are far more beautiful than her. There are so many other more beautiful female campaigners. There are heroines. Vinay Katiyar is the founder-president of Bajrang Dal, the youth wing of the Hindu nationalist organisation Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). He has served as a national General Secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and as a Member of Parliament (MP) in the Lower House, Lok Sabha and is currently a member of the Upper House, the Rajya Sabha.

• Abu Azmi

File photo: PTI Foreign culture leads to molestations. Abu Asim Azmi is the president of the Maharashtra state branch of the Samajwadi Party (SP) and currently represents Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar of Mumbai Suburban District in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.

• Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi

File photo: PTI Women wearing lipsticks are like terrorists. Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi is the vice president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs.

• Sheila Dixit

File Photo: PTI Women should not be too adventurous. Sheila Dikshit was the Chief Minister of Delhi from 1998 to 2013. She is a member of the Indian National Congress (INC). Dikshit-led the Congress to three consecutive electoral victories in Delhi.

• Mamata Banerjee

File photo: PTI Rapes happen because men and women interact. Mamata Banerjee is the Chief Minister of West Bengal since 2011 and is the first woman to hold the office. He founded the party All India Trinamool Congress (AITMC or TMC) in 1997 and became its chairperson, after separating from the Congress. Mamata is often referred to as Didi (meaning elder sister in Bengali).

• Sharad Yadav to Smriti Irani

Image: Facebook I know what you are. Sharad Yadav is a politician from the Janata Dal (United) party and is current representing the state of Bihar in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Parliament. Yadav has been elected to Lok Sabha seven times and to Rajya Sabha twice.

• Mulayam Singh Yadav

File photo: PTI Boys are boys, they commit mistakes. Mulayam Singh Yadav was previously the head of the Samajwadi Party from Uttar Pradesh and had served as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh from 1989 to 1991, from 1993 to 1995, and from 2003 to 2007. Mulayam also served as the Minister of Defence of India from 1996 to 1998 in the United Front government.