"LLRC The New LOL, No Tax On Laughter," Says Renuka Chowdhury

Goa: Congress lawmaker Renuka Chowdhury, whose guffaws during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech last week had triggered a gender debate inside parliament and out, told NDTV that she has found support from women across the nation. "LLRC" or Laugh Like Renuka Chowdhury is the new hashtag and young women are forming "Suparnakha clubs", Ms Chowdhury said. These women, she said, claim they do not want to identify with the popular narrative of women in our culture that idolises the mythological Sita and Savitri.  

Speaking at "Difficult Dialogues" - a conference focusing on gender equality in Goa -- Ms Chowdhury said she is overwhelmed by the support women have showed on social media.

It was the Surpanakha dig from Union minister Kiren Rijiju that pushed Ms Chowdhury to put up a motion for breach of privilege against him. The minister had shared a post on Facebook that mocked her laughter. The post started with a cheeky clip from Ramayana that showed the sister of demon king Ravana cackling in an evil fashion.

It went on to show the clip from the PM's address in Rajya Sabha, where Ms Chowdhury was being admonished by Chairperson Venkaiah Naidu for laughing loudly. PM Modi, who was midway through his response to the debate on the President's address, had intervened.  

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"I request you to let Renuka ji continue. After the Ramayana serial, we got the privilege of hearing this kind of laughter only today)," the Prime Minister said, leaving many wondering which mythological character he was comparing her to.

As it triggered a rush of memes on social media, Ms Chowdhury and the Congress said the comments were an insult to women and demanded an apology from the Prime Minister.

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Today, Ms Chowdhury said the misogyny stretches across party lines and is not limited to one party. The BJP, though, was heading the misogynistic brigade, she added.

"The BJP takes the award... This year's male misogyny award and the century's goes to the BJP and the RSS... the BJP primarily, with Prime Minister Modi heading them," she said.

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Asked if laughing during the prime minister's address inside the house was inappropriate, Ms Chowdhury vehemently denied it. No rule book states that laughing in the house is prohibited. She said she will keep laughing as there is "no tax on laughter".