NCW issues a notice to Rahul Gandhi on his remark on Narendra Modi




Rahul Gandhi with Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot and Deputy CM Sachin Pilot in Jaipur (Photo: Twitter)

New Delhi: The National Commission for Women (NCW) issued a notice on Thursday to Congress president Rahul Gandhi on his remark that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had got himself a woman to defend him in Parliament on the Rafale deal, in a reference to Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

On Wednesday, Gandhi had said, “Janata ki adalat se chappan inch ki chaatiwala bhaag gaya, aur ek mahila se kehta hai ‘Sitharamanji, aap meri raksha kijiye, main apni raksha nahi kar paunga’… Aur aapne dekha dhai ghante mahila raksha nahi kar paayi. Seedha sa sawaal tha mera, haan ya naa dijiye, par woh raksha nahi kar paayi (The one with the 56-inch chest fled from the court of the people and asked a woman that ‘Sitharamanji, defend me, I am unable to defend myself’. You saw that for two-and-a-half hours, the woman could not defend him. I asked a simple question, which required a yes or no answer, but she could not defend him).”

In his tweet Gandhi addressed PM Modi and challenged him to answer like a man. “With all due respect Modi Ji, in our culture respect for women begins at home. Stop shaking. Be a man and answer my question: Did the Air Force and Defence Ministry object when you bypassed the original Rafale deal? Yes? Or No?”Rahul tweeted.

Taking suo motu cognizance of media reports, the NCW, in its notice to the Congress chief, said, “Whereas the remarks made are extremely misogynistic, offensive, unethical and shows extreme disrespect towards the dignity and honour of women in general.”

“Whereas the commission strongly condemns such irresponsible and disparaging views of persons holding responsible positions. Considering the gravity of the matter, you are hereby required to provide a satisfactory explanation to the Commission on the matter on the receipt of this notice,” it added. (Notice to Rahul attached.)

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