Omar's 'makeup kit' remark sparks protest by women members

Srinagar, Dec 2:

Chief Minister

's recent "makeup kit" remark led to a protest by state's

panchayat members, who termed the statement as an "insult" to women.

A large number of women members from Ganderbal, Omar's home constituency, took out a protest march yesterday at Beehama Chowk near the national highway connecting Srinagar with Leh.

"Omar's remark is an insult to women members who have fought the battle from within and outside to take part in the democratic process and work at the grassroots level for the betterment of people," a protesting panchayat member Ayesha said, asking the chief minister to withdraw his comment.

She said the members are ready to resign if the chief minister can prove that they have taken any makeup kits from the PDP.

The panchayat members are wise enough to vote for a suitable candidate and they do not need to be taught whom to support, she asserted.

Addressing a gathering in Ganderbal on Nov 29, Omar had accused the PDP leadership of luring women panchayat members by providing them makeup kits to secure their support in the forthcoming legislative council elections in the state.

Refuting his allegations, PDP criticised the chief minister's statement on Nov 30, terming it a remark intended to discourage women of the state from being empowered and assigned the much-deserved political space.

PTI