Congress defends Gurudas Kamat over his comment about Smriti Irani

Mumbai, Aug 3: The women and youth wings of Mumbai Congress on Monday defended party general secretary Gurudas Kamat over his comment about Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani and decried the demonstration by BJP workers outside his house here yesterday.

The party also asked why these BJP workers were not similarly agitated when Kamat and other Congressmen demanded criminal action against Sushma Swaraj and Vasundhara Raje. [Kamat gets NCW notice for offensive remarks against Smriti]

A statement by Mahila and Youth Congress units said the poor turn-out for the demonstration showed "lack of support and credibility on the issue."

"Kamat has clearly stated that his comments did not degrade Irani and he had only questioned her educational qualifications to hold the important portfolio of HRD and made a passing reference to her working at McDonald's as a waitress which is as per Irani's own admission," it said.

The women's wing chief of Mumbai BJP, Shalaka Salvi, had allegedly threatened to disrupt Kamat's meetings, and "we challenge the BJP Mahila and youth wings to disrupt a single meeting of Kamat's," it said.

"None of their prominent leaders will be able to move around Mumbai as the Mahila, youth and student wings of Congress across Mumbai will gherao them," it warned.

Kamat was known for his high regard for women and had always supported (party president) Sonia Gandhi in her commitment to the women's cause, it said.

Kamat, while referring to Irani's stint at McDonald's, had also asserted that there was nothing wrong with it, but this part was suppressed by the BJP, it alleged.

It further said that when Kamat had demanded criminal action against the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje over their links with Lalit Modi, "none of these BJP activists shed any tears for them, though they were much more senior than Irani."

It also expressed surprise over suo motu notice issued to Kamat by National Commission for Women over the issue.

PTI