Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former union minister Smriti Irani on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the INDI alliance, saying that their party leaders have constantly made derogatory remarks against women.
“Whether it is Sita Soren in Jharkhand or Shaina NC in Maharashtra, when a woman contests election for her ideologies or raises voice, leaders of INDI bloc make derogatory statements against them. Instead of stooping so low if they debate women of the NDA alliance based on the current issues then it is acceptable,” she told ANI.
She further asked whether the voters will see any positive change by the INDI alliance when they just hear the derogatory remarks by them.
“Looking at their upcoming failure, in Jharkhand and Maharashtra elections, the kind of statements INDI alliance leaders are making, will there be any positive change visible to the voters? Why don’t these leaders discuss security and current issues with women leaders? On one side is PM Modi passed the bill of 33 pc reservation, and bolstering the country,” she added.
Earlier on Tuesday in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC and candidate from Mumba devi constituency, criticised Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sunil Raut over his alleged comments on another woman candidate..
“They should not make the mistake of thinking of me as some helpless woman. I have been working in politics for the last 20 years and have fought for the rights of women. I will continue to fight like this in the future. I am a woman, not a commodity (Mahila hoon, maal nahi),” Shaina NC said in a statement posted on X.
The controversy began when Arvind Sawant, an MP of the Shiv Sena faction led by Uddhav Thackeray, allegedly referred to Shaina as “imported maal,” saying, “Look at her condition. She was in the BJP all her life and now she went to another party. Imported ‘maal’ doesn’t work here; only original ‘maal’ does.”
Whereas in Jharkhand, Sita Soren broke down while speaking on the remarks made by Congress leader Irfan Ansari against her, and said the tribal community has decided to bar him from entering tribal villages.
BJP’s Sita Soren is BJP’s candidate from the Jamtara constituency in the upcoming Jharkhand Assembly elections. She is up against Congress’ Irfan Ansari, who is the INDIA bloc candidate for the seat.
Ansari stirred a controversy after he called Sita Soren a “rejected” and a “borrowed” player.