Gandhinagar : Danseuse and independent candidate from Gandhinagar in Gujarat Mallika Sarabhai has filed a complaint with the Election Commission against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for making lotus ‘mangal sutras’ (pendant worn by married women) for the poll campaign.
Mallika in her complaint has raised objections on the BJP using “a symbol of pride for Indian women” as a tool for campaigning in the polls.
“The BJP’s campaign using a mangal sutra made out of a party symbol is an insult to Indian women,” she said.
The opposition Congress has also reacted strongly to the BJP’s move to make a mangal sutra out of the party symbol.
Chief spokesperson of the Gujarat Congress Arjun Modhvadia said: “A mangal sutra is a traditional ornament which can be offered only by a husband to his wife. This is certainly derogatory for Indian women.”
Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram, on a visit to Ahmedabad, commented: “A mangal sutra is a symbol of purity and pride for Indian women. How can it be used by BJP as a tool for poll campaigning?”
However, state BJP spokesperson I.K. Jadeja said : “This is just a garland. In the party’s view its just a garland… nothing else.”