BJP MLA calls Mayawati 'worse than eunuch', BSP hits back
What's the story
A controversy erupted after a BJP MLA from Uttar Pradesh made offensive remarks on BSP Chief Mayawati saying she was 'worse than a eunuch'.
Addressing a gathering, lawmaker Sadhana Singh on Saturday said Mayawati was 'blot of womanhood' for 'selling dignity for power'. Singh was referring to the newly-announced SP-BSP alliance.
Hours later, BSP hit back calling Singh 'mentally ill'.
Here's more.
Remarks
Singh says Draupadi fought for her dignity, Mayawati didn't
In an apparent reference to the guest house incident, Singh said when Draupadi was disrobed, she vowed to take revenge. But Mayawati did otherwise.
She added Mayawati was "neither a woman nor a man".
"We strongly condemn Mayawati ji. A woman who gulped insults for comfort and power ... is a blot on womankind," the MLA from Mughalsarai said while the crowd cheered.
Reference
In 1995, Mayawati was allegedly assaulted by SP workers
Singh was referring to the infamous guest house incident of 1995 where Mayawati was allegedly assaulted by Samajwadi Party workers as she withdrew support from the government.
The incident led to years of animosity between the two parties. However, earlier this year SP and BSP buried the hatchet and formed an alliance for the Lok Sabha elections.
They will fight on 38 seats each.
Twitter Post
Watch video: BJP's Singh insults Mayawati
#WATCH:BJP MLA Sadhna Singh says about BSP chief Mayawati, "jis din mahila ka blouse, petticoat, saari phat jaaye, wo mahila na satta ke liye aage aati hai. Usko pure desh ki mahila kalankit maanti hai.Wo to kinnar se bhi jyada badtar hai, kyunki wo to na nar hai, na mahila hai." pic.twitter.com/w3Cdizd8eR
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 19, 2019
Reaction
BSP says Singh should be admitted to mental hospital
Reacting on Singh's words, BSP leader SC Mishra said the comments showed BJP's mentality. He added the BJP, which governs Centre and UP, is scared of SP-BSP alliance.
"They have no strength to win even a single seat in Uttar Pradesh. The level of language shows their mental illness. Such people should be admitted to the mental hospital of Agra or Bareli," he said.
Details
Congress' Priyanka Chaturvedi condemns comments
Singh's comments were also condemned by Congress. The spokesperson of the party, Priyanka Chaturvedi, tweeted it wasn't surprising the lawmakers belonged to BJP.
But the fact that a woman used such language for another woman and people clapped was appalling, wrote Chaturvedi.
Several Twitter users expressed disgust at Singh's comments and hoped Union Minister Maneka Gandhi would initiate action against her.