By Shah Alam,
Shahrad Yadav, a Rajya Sabha MP and Janata Dal (United) chief has been in news for some days for his sexist remarks against south Indian women. During a debate in Parliament, Yadav made derogatory remarks against south Indian women and their bodies calling them as ‘saanvli’ (dusky).
He said: “The women of south are beautiful, their bodies…their skin …They aren’t made like this here. They know dance.”
Shahrad Yadav (Courtesy: NDTV)
Kanimozhi, another Rajya Sabha MP, tried to oppose his comment calling it as irrelevant.
Reacting to her criticism, Yadav argued that he was only paying a compliment. Yadav’s staunch defense of his dusky comments is hardly surprising. “Why there is a song, ‘mera gora rang lele, shyam rang dede?’ What did I say that is wrong?” wondered Yadav.
He also commented on documentary maker Leslee Udwin, who came into limelight after her documentary on Delhi gang rape case also became the victim of Yadav’s comments. He commented that Udwin got permissions easily to shoot documentary because of her fair skin. He alleged that all doors open for fair-skinned women.
Yadav could also not stop making derogatory remarks against HRD Minister Smriti Zubin Irani during the debate in Parliament. When Irani requested him not to speak about the colour of a woman’s skin, Yadav ticked off the minister and said, “Who are you? Sit down. I listened to your appeal and I reject it. Women alone have not taken up the responsibility of women.” He later apologised.
This was not the first time when Yadav made misogynistic and sexist remarks in the Parliament. Earlier during the debate on anti-rape bill, Yadav rhetorically made controversial remarks and said, “Who amongst us have not followed girls?” referring to the provisions of stalking and voyeurism in the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2013. He had also said that the legislation would deter people from providing hiring women, fearing false cases. “People will be scared to give jobs to women,” he said, citing the misuse of the anti-dowry law.
In 1997, Sharad Yadav controversially used the term “parkati auratein” (short-haired women) to argue against the Women’s Quota Bill. Defending his remark, Yadav had argued that the term parkati auratein was only a cultural idiomatic expression.
All the times he refused to take his words back and tried to defend these. Being the member of august house and representative of masses, Yadav carries a responsibility to choose his words with care.
Public representatives are not expected to discuss the colour of skin but ground issues such as poverty, education and women’s security. Such immature remarks against women should not be taken in lighter vein. All the members of Parliament irrespective of their parties should strongly condemn such statements so that the sexist comments could not be made in future.
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(Shah Alam is Senior Research Fellow at Centre for Women’s Studies, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh.)