Sadhana Singh said Mayawati "was a blot on womankind".
Sadhana Singh, a lawmaker of the ruling BJP in Uttar Pradesh, has come under severe criticism from the opposition for offensive comments against Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati. The BSP leader, she said, "was a blot on womankind". Ms Singh accused her of "selling her dignity for power" by joining hands with the Samajwadi Party.
"She (Mayawati) has no self-respect... she was almost molested earlier and yet... in history, when Draupadi was molested, she took a vow to seek revenge... but this woman, she lost everything, but still sold her dignity for the sake of power. We strongly condemn Mayawatiji. She is a blot on womankind. A woman who gulped insults for comfort and power...is a blot on womankind," Sadhana Singh said referring to the infamous episode when the BSP chief was assaulted by Samajwadi Party workers at a guest house in Lucknow in 1995 that triggered decades of animosity.
Mayawati's party said that the language of the BJP leader reflected the party's "frustration with the SP-BSP alliance". "They have lost their mental balance in fear of losing the election in Uttar Pradesh," said the BSP's Satish Chandra Mishra.
Here are the updates on the story:
Bahujan Samaj Party has filed a police complaint against BJP lawmaker Sadhna Singh for derogatory remarks on Mayawati. She had apologized earlier.
National Commission for Women's statement
"Such derogatory statements are unbecoming of a leader and highly condemnable. NCW has taken suo motu cognisance and will be sending a notice to Sadhana Singh tomorrow," chairperson Rekha Sharma said
National Commission for Women to send notice to Sadhana Singh over comments against Mayawati
The National Commission for Women has questioned the objectionable statements reportedly made by BJP lawmaker Sadhana Singh on BSP chief Mayawati and said it would formally issue a notice seeking an explanation from her, according to news agency Press Trust of India.
According to media reports, Sadhana Singh made objectionable remarks on Mayawati over an infamous episode when the BSP chief was reportedly assaulted by Samajwadi Party workers at a guest house in Lucknow in 1995 that triggered decades of animosity between the two parties, according to PTI.
Taking suo motu cognisance of the reports, an NCW official said the Commission will send a notice on Monday to Sadhana Singh regarding the statement and seek an explanation from her.
"Such derogatory statements are unbecoming of a leader and highly condemnable. NCW has taken suo motu cognisance and will be sending a notice to Sadhana Singh tomorrow," NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma said.
Misa Bharti tweets, saying the past five years have been the worst for Dalits
Misa Bharti, daughter of Lalu Yadav, tweeted criticising the comments by the BJP lawmaker. In a series of tweets in Hindi, Ms Bharti said the past five years have been the worst for Dalits.
In the tweet, she said that the BJP had diluted the SC/ST Act and said that the centre had done so using Bhima Koregaon as an excuse.
She also said there were crimes which happened in Unnao, Saharanpur and Kasganj.
In another tweet, she said that the BJP had hatred for Dalit politicians, was clear.
"Don't agree with disrespectful remarks against Mayawati": Ramdas Athawale
Union minister Ramdas Athawale, quoted by news agency ANI, said that while he was in the BJP, he didn't agree with the "disrespectful remarks" against Mayawati.
"She is a strong lady of our Dalit community & a good administrator. I would've definitely taken action if it was someone from our party," he added.
Akhilesh Yadav strongly condemned the BJP leadr's remarks. The comments was an "insult to the women of the country" and an indicator of the BJP's "moral bankruptcy and hopelessness", he tweeted.
Last week, Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati announced that they are contesting the Lok Sabha election together in the state. The BSP chief said that she had decided to put the past behind her "for the sake of the nation", seemingly aimed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had, at a rally, taunted her for "forgetting" that episode while allying with the Samajwadi Party.
The BJP leader was referring to the infamous episode when the BSP chief was assaulted by Samajwadi Party workers at a guest house in Lucknow in 1995 that triggered decades of animosity.
"She (Mayawati) has no self-respect... she was almost molested earlier and yet... in history, when Draupadi was molested, she took a vow to seek revenge... but this woman, she lost everything, but still sold her dignity for the sake of power. We strongly condemn Mayawati ji. She is a blot on womankind. A woman who gulped insults for comfort and power ... is a blot on womankind," Sadhana Singh said.
Sadhana Singh, a lawmaker of the ruling BJP in Uttar Pradesh, has come under severe criticism from the opposition for offensive comments against Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati. The BSP leader, she said, "was a blot on womankind". Ms Singh accused her of "selling her dignity for power" by joining hands with the Samajwadi Party.