Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday attacked the Congress-led INDIA bloc for its silence on Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Arvind Sawant's sexist remarks against Shaina NC, a BJP leader who had joined the Shinde Sena faction to to contest the November 20 elections in Maharashtra.
The opposition used “foul language” against a woman leader,” Mr Modi said in an election speech in Jharkhand, where Assembly elections will also be held this month. The INDIA bloc, allied with the Thackeray Sena and Sharad Pawar's NCP in Maharashtra and with Hemant Soren's Jharkhand Mukti Morcha in the latter, is seen as the BJP's main opposition in both.
“Mothers and daughters are in shock (and the) people will teach them a lesson,” the Prime Minister said, while also attacking the Congress for “humiliating” Sita Soren, his party's candidate in these elections and sister-in-law of Chief Minister Hemant Soren.
Arvind Sawant – a Lok Sabha MP – made the offensive remarks during a media interaction last week. He was asked about Ms Shaina's chances in the upcoming elections.
Responding to his comment, Ms Shaina said: “I'm not someone whotimes'(goods). I am a daughter of Mumbai and have been working dedicatedly for the past 20 years. This is a rude comment from Sawant. I am a 'mahila'(woman), not a'times'. Everyone knows that the Maha Vinash Aghadi (a play on the opposition party Maha Vikas Aghadi) has no respect for women.”
“We (BJP) campaigned for him… ask him where he came from. I am a'loadingli' (beloved) daughter of Mumbai, and I work for the people of the city. I don't need any certificates from Mr Sawant or the Shiv Sena (UBT).”
Mr Sawant later claimed that he had a fair comparison with Shaina NC and that she may have misunderstood his comment. “It refers to 'goods' but she could have misinterpreted it. I had no such intentions,” he said.
A police case has been registered against Mr Sawant.