The better half of India

Women in India had to fight inside and outside their homes to reach a stage where they can compete with the men in every field, even in wrestling as we saw in Bhilali, Haryana/“Dangal.” But politics is a meaner world for women, not only in India but also outside as we recently saw the disrespect with which the new American President treats women, whether he is complimenting them or insulting them.

Today’s episode was only another example of the total disdain with which many chauvinistic men treat women, especially our political leaders. For them a woman is as good or as bad as she looks- she is either pretty (like their actress-turned minister Irani) or ugly. If she falls in the latter category, they will stoop to any extent to insult/denigrate her(as the BJP leader insulted Mayawati).

“We have more beautiful campaigners than Priyanka,” says Katiyar

Vinay Katiyar, a BJP MLA was only betraying this marrow mindset when he replied to Priyanka Gandhi’s campaigning in Uttar Pradesh by saying that they(their party) have “more beautiful women star campaigners than her.”

“Daughter’s honour not bigger than vote,” says Sharad Yadav

The JD(U) President in Patna on Tuesday, he said, “The importance of the vote has to be told to everyone, everywhere. The honour of the vote is greater than that of a daughter. It a daughter’s honour is compromised, the honour of a village, a locality gets sullied. But, when the honour of the vote is compromised…sold…the honour of the entire region, State and the nation gets sullied.”

True to their ego, they remain unapologetic. Katiyar thinks he only paid a compliment to Priyanka’s beauty. And Sharad Yadav (who Katiyar incidentally feels should apologize) cannot imagine that he has said anything wrong. This is the same person who has said about us South Indian women,“The women of the south are dark but they are… their bodies….” He had also spoken about “The women of the south are dark but they are… their bodies….” while speaking about the exquisite dancing skills of South Indian women.

Fitting reply by Priyanka Gandhi

In this entire episode, Priyanka stood tall by vouching for the strength of her women opponents,calling them her colleagues. She said, “If that’s all the BJP sees in my colleagues who are each strong, brave and beautiful women that have battled through all sorts of hardships to get where they are, then he makes me laugh even more. Because he exposes the BJP’s mindset towards the better half of the population of India!!!.”