Is Jaiswal ready to serve jail term for his sexist remarks?

New Delhi, Oct 3: There seems to be no end to the troubles of Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal. After being accused in the multi-crore coal block allocation scam, Jaiswal has courted the wrath of

's groups for his sexist remark.

A case has been lodged against the union minister in a district court in Kanpur for his 'old wives' remarks on Wednesday, Oct 3.

The case has been filed by activist Anita Dua, who runs an NGO Lakshya. Dua said that Jaiswal should be charged with defamation and making obscene comments in public.

Dua has submitted to the court a CD of Jaiswal's remarks and newspaper clippings as evidence. The court will record her statement on Oct 8.

Legal experts say that if Jaiswal would be found guilty for defamation, he could be sent to jail for a maximum period of two years. If charged and convicted for obscene remarks, he could be sentenced for three months.

Women's organisations and opposition BJP leaders strongly protested against Jaiswal's remarks on Tuesday. The coal minister had rendered apology for hurting sentiments of women. Opposition BJP has also remanded resignation of the union minister.

Jaiswal (68) is said to have made the remarks in a poetry function.

Comparing India's Sunday win over Pakistan at the World T20 to a marriage, Jaiswal had said: "Nayi nayi jeet aur nayi nayi shaadi, iska apna alag mahatva hota hai... jaise jaise samay beetega..jeet ki yaadein purani hoti jayegi; jaise jaise samay beet ta hai, patni purani hoti chali jati hai, vo maza nahi rehta hai."

Loosely translated, he said that like a new victory, a new marriage has its own importance, but as time passes, like the victory, a wife loses her charm.

This is, however, not the first time that Jaiswal's words caused embarrasment to himself and his party. During the Uttar Pradesh elections this year, the minister's comment that Rahul Gandhi could become the Prime Minister any day had caused much discomfort to the party. He was asked to apologise then as well.

OneIndia News