#DespiteBeingAWoman: Narendra Modi's 'sexist comment' creates uproar on Twitter

Updated: Monday, June 8, 2015, 16:20 [IST]

New Delhi, June 8: On the second day of his 2-day visit to Bangladesh, Narendra Modi on Sunday, June 7 praised Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

Modi praised Hasina's courage to fight terrorism despite being a woman and her bold stand against the menace by declaring "zero tolerance" towards it.

Narendra Modi with Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina

"We know solution for everything, but not terrorism. I am happy that Bangladesh Prime Minister, despite being a woman, has declared zero tolerance for terrorism," the Prime Minister said in his hour-long address to Dhaka University.

He said terrorism is an enemy of humanity, and therefore all humanitarian forces had to unite to fight it.

Soon after his statement, the phrase, despite being a woman, which was used by Modi, started trending on micro-blogging site Twitter. #DespiteBeingAWoman has been trending on top on Twitter since Sunday.

Many reports criticised Modi for his "sexist comment" on Sheikh Hasina.

Here are a few tweets which surfaced after Modi's statement:

What made him think that women have tolerance for violence and terrorism? #DespiteBeingAWoman
— Sanjeev Himachali (@Sanjuhimachali) June 8, 2015

#DespiteBeingAWoman Jashoda Ben didnt get to be a wife, and deprived of motherhood.
— $agar (@SagarRajshi) June 8, 2015

“@RanaAyyub: #DespiteBeingAWoman she did not fight for her rights as his legally wedded wife nor for the respect given to a PMs wife"Amen!"
— Kuldeep Singh (@ksingh1935) June 8, 2015

#DespiteBeingAWoman Italian Lady left behind all men in Corruption & looting India.
— Deepak Mankani #HDL (@deepumankani7) June 8, 2015

#DespiteBeingAWoman ia such a wrong phrase to use as it is badly sexist n makes a dent on d identity of women.
— vinay kumar dokania (@vinaydokania) June 8, 2015

Mr. Prime Minister for your information many women took part in our freedom fight #DespiteBeingAWoman
— Sanjeev Himachali (@Sanjuhimachali) June 8, 2015

#DespiteBeingAWoman jasodaben gets her rti rejected time n again by modis govt
— vinay kumar dokania (@vinaydokania) June 8, 2015

#DespiteBeingAWoman Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj left out from Modis foreign trips
— Rev Sunil Raj Philip (@RevsunilRaj) June 8, 2015

#DespiteBeingAWoman Soniya makes money of nowhere.
— Office Of VK (@decentandsimple) June 8, 2015

#DespiteBeingAWoman this shows narrow minded thinking of a person.
— satish (@satish2902) June 8, 2015

#Modi proved he is just another typical indian man when it comes to #women! Wont agree they are as powerful as men!! #DespiteBeingAWoman
— ANOOP A. (@getanoop) June 8, 2015