Political parties slam Mulayam Singh for his remarks on women

New Delhi/Lucknow, March 24 (ANI): Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav's objectionable remarks about women in relation to the Women's Reservation Bill evoked criticism from parties across the political spectrum on Wednesday.

CPM politburo member Brinda Karat, in her reaction, said lack of a logic against the Women's Bill had made the SP chief resort to such statements.

"Mulayam Singh Yadavji should certanily never have made such an offensive comment. If he has an opposition to the Bill, there's a logic to that opposition which he can express, but precisely because there is no logic to that opposition, he is resorting to such a low level of political debate which is offensive to women. This comment about men whistling or cat-calling at women who are in politics, also trivialises what is actually a harassment offence," Times Now reported Ms. Karat as saying.

Congress party also said that Mulayam Singh should not insult women.

Asked to comment on Mulayam's remarks, Congress spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi said: "If this is indeed the comment, all I can saythat your use of respectful words for all sections of society should increase with your political seniority and political experience. If you cannot do much for the female sections of our society, at least do not insult them, at least do not deride them, at least do not make fun of them."

"It is shocking, retrograde and the most obnoxious statement from a person who made his own daughter-in-law stand for Lok Sabha elections. I think it is Mulayam Singh's insecurity. Why is he feeling threatened if he is confident of his leadership and his votebank or his constituency? It's basically because his foundations and support base has been completely shattered, that he is giving these kind of completely unacceptable and most condemnable statements," said BJP national spokesperson Tarun Vijay.

"BSP strongly condemns irresponsible statement given by the SP chief that only women and girls of affluent class would get benefit of the women's reservation and youths would pass comment on them," BSP state President Swami Prasad Maurya said.

"Such a childish statement is unbecoming of a person, who had been the chief minister of the state and had been a Union Minister," he added.

On Tuesday, Mulayam Singh while addressing his party workers at a function to mark Ram Manohar Lohia's birth centenary in Lucknow, said that the Women's Bill would only help those women belonging to families of industrialists and bureaucrats who were of the kind youths want to whistle at.

"'If the Women's Reservation Bill goes through, it's the daughters of industrialists and big bureaucrats who will get elected. I don't like to say this, but they would be the women at hom youths would whistle," he stated

He said women workers of his party may not be ready for this Bill and that he was saying this so that they would get ready for a protracted agitation.

"Once the bill comes into force, not a single male would be elected to the Lok Sabha after 10 years as elected women would not leave their seats, nor the political parties would be in a osition to replace them," he added. (ANI)