8 Cringeworthy Statements Made By Indian Politicians In 2021 That Made Us Wonder Why We Elected Them
Indian ministers and politicians are pretty interesting. Most of them have zero respect for women and are misogynists. I love watching trashy reality shows but what I love more is watching Indian politicians talking about women rights and making rather ridiculous statements. I know, I know, that’s such a bad thing but you know what’s worse? The fact that we are the ones who elected them and put them in a position of power. And most of these politicians want to use this power to control women and their bodies. From trivialising rape to commenting on a woman’s reproductive rights, these politicians have done everything possible to put women down and show their sexist and crab mentality. Remember when Rachel from F.R.I.E.N.D.S said, “No uterus, no opinion.” Well, I wish I could get in the faces of these ministers and say it! So, as 2021 comes to an end, let’s take a look at all the absurd statements made by Indian ministers that had us questioning their sanity.
1. Congress MLA Ramesh Kumar
The statement made by this Indian politician was not only absurd but it was also shameful, insensitive and distasteful. The incident occurred when the Karnataka Assembly was in full swing and discussing famers’ issues. During the discussion, members had limited time allotted to them to speak but they were asking for more time. The speaker Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri turned to the former speaker KR Ramesh Kumar and pointed out that he cannot keep it under control and take it forward in a systematic manner. Responding to it MLA Ramesh Kumar made a rather sexist joke about rape that had our blood boiling. “here is a saying, when rape is inevitable, lie down and enjoy it. That’s exactly the position into which you are,” said the Congress MLA. This is sexist and disgusting, TBH.
#SHOCKING #Karnataka #MLAs #triviliazes #Rape in #assembly *There is a saying, When rape is inevitable, lie down and enjoy it' says former Speaker and congress MlA #RameshKumar during seeking more time on farmer issues. While current speaker Kageri laughs it off. pic.twitter.com/sWgQGK9jmi
— Imran Khan (@KeypadGuerilla) December 16, 2021
2. Goa CM Pramod Sawant
Following an incident of 2 minor girls being gang-raped on a beach in Goa, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant made a rather insensitive remark that left us all feeling ashamed for electing him as our leader. Instead of taking women’s safety seriously, the Goa CM blamed the parents for allowing their children to stay out on the beach all night while pointing out that the government and Police cannot be held accountable. He further pointed out that it’s the parent’s duty to ensure the safety of their kids and not allow girls to leave home at night. We blame the police… but I want to point out that of the 10 youth who went to the beach for a party, four stayed on the beach the whole night… two boys and two girls. Teens, particularly minors, should not be spending the nights on beaches,” said the Indian politician. Victim-blaming much, Mr Pramod Sawant?
3. NCW member Chandramukhi Devi
If you think that male Indian politicians are the only ones making these absurd statements, you couldn’t be more wrong. A member of the National Commission for Women (NCW), Chandramukhi Devi made a derogatory comment against a 50-year-old gang-rape victim from Badaun. Blaming the victim for the rape, the NCW member said that women should not roam around at odd hours. She further added that the victim would not have been raped had she not gone to the temple in the evening or if she was accompanied by a kid from the family. Really? You expect a kid to save a woman from rape? This is beyond shameful for a woman to shame a rape victim of her own gender.
𝗦𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗙𝗨𝗟
NCW member Chandramukhi, who was sent to meet the kin of the Badaun rape victim blames the victim for venturing out in the evening & says the Badaun incident wouldn’t have happened if women had not stepped out in EVENING.
— Saral Patel (@SaralPatel) January 7, 2021
Also Read: Congress MLA Ramesh Kumar Said If Rape Is Inevitable, Lie Down And Enjoy It. What Sick Minds Are Running This Country?
4. MLA Rajendra Singh Gudha
The Rajasthan Minister of State for Soldier Welfare, Home Guard and Civil Defence, and Panchayati Raj and Rural Development, Rajendra Singh Gudha had a rather interesting taking on the condition of roads in India. This Indian politician not only aged shamed an actress but also compared the condition of roads to the cheeks of another actress. The minister compared the condition of roads to Hema Malini’s cheeks before adding that the actress had become old. He then went on to equate the condition of the roads to Katrina Kaif’s cheeks. I don’t know if this is more bizarre or sexist!
5. Dr K Sudhakar
This Indian politician left us in a state of shock with his misogynistic statement. Speaking at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurological Sciences (NIMHANS) on World Mental Health Day, Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar pointed out that the ‘modern Indian women’ want to stay single while adding that even if they do get married they do not want to have a kid. “Today, I am sorry to say this, lots of modern women in India want to stay single. Even if they get married, they don’t want to give birth. They want surrogacy. So there is a paradigm shift in our thinking, which is not good,” said the minister. I cannot even begin to explain how problematic this statement is. What is wrong with women wanting to stay single and exercise their reproductive rights however they want?
6. CT Ravi
BJP’s National General Secretary CT Ravi actually had the guts to defend Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar’s remarks instead of calling him out. This Indian politician went on to point out that the comment made by the health minister was not about ‘all Indian women’ and that it was only the ‘educated working women, especially those from the IT sector’ who have a mindset like that. Well, I don’t know what’s worse, the statement made by the health minister or the fact that Mr Ravi actually defended it!
#WATCH | Every woman is not like this… It is happening because of western influence and micro families. In India, we still have faith in family unlike countries such as USA & UK: BJP General Secretary leader CT Ravi on Karnataka Minister K Sudhakar's statement on women pic.twitter.com/JppXi4yaUo
— ANI (@ANI) October 11, 2021
7. Uttarakhand CM Tirath Singh Rawat
According to this Indian politician, ‘ripped jeans’ are the sole cause of trouble in Indian culture. In a rather shocking statement, the Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat recounted a conversation he had with a woman, who was travelling with two kids, in a flight. Pointing out that she was wearing ripped jeans and gumboots, the minister questioned that what values and culture would the woman give to the children as she herself was showing her ‘bare knees’. Well, the last time I checked bare knees and ripped jeans have nothing to do with Indian culture and kids. And isn’t our Indian culture a little too fragile since ripped jeans are all it takes to mess it up!
#WATCH मैं एक दिन हवाई जहाज से जयपुर से आ रहा था। मेरे बगल में एक बहनजी बैठी थी। मैंने उनकी तरफ देखा नीचे गम बूट थे। जब और ऊपर देखा तो जींस घुटने से फटी हुई थी। 2 बच्चे उनके साथ में थे। महिला NGO चलाती है। समाज के बीच में जाती हो। क्या संस्कार दोगे?: उत्तराखंड CM तीरथ सिंह रावत pic.twitter.com/sGri6pPH7K
— ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) March 17, 2021
Not only did this comment result in a social media backlash and outcry but from what I’ve heard from my friends from Dehradun, it was severely protested by the citizens as well. In fact, clubs and restaurants in the state went as far as offering discounts to women for wearing ripped jeans.
Also Read: Minister Bisahulal Singh Says Upper Caste Women Should Be Dragged Out To Work. Okay Then!
8. MP ST Hasan
Ever since the government gave approval to the proposal to increase the marriageable age of women from 18 years to 21 years, Indian politicians have been making some rather bizarre and senseless statements. Samajwadi Party MP ST Hasan shared his rather absurd idea around the marriageable age of women. He pointed out that women should marry when they become fertile at the age of 16-17 years. He also shared that delaying marriage puts women at the risk of infertility which can make it difficult for them to conceive. Well, clearly our Indian politicians think that women are just baby-making machines. But hey, newsflash –we are humans too and there’s more to life than just having kids.
#WATCH | Girls should be married when they attain age of fertility. There is nothing wrong if a mature girl is married at 16. If she can vote at age of 18, why can't she marry?: Samajwadi Party MP ST Hasan on Govt's decision to raise legal age of marriage for women to 21 years pic.twitter.com/UZxHrMcjrh
— ANI (@ANI) December 17, 2021
9. Congress leader Sajjan Singh Verma
But this minister isn’t the first one to make such a statement. Earlier when MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan came up with the proposal to increase the marriageable age of women, Congress leader Sajjan Singh Verma has expressed his disappointment. The minister had said that there is no need to increase the marriageable age of girls to 21 years when they can reproduce at the age of 15 years. Well, Mr Verma let me tell you something, marriage is not just about having babies!
#WATCH | According to doctors, a girl is ready for reproduction by the age of 15. Is the CM a doctor or a scientist? So, on what basis does girls' marriage age should be increased to 21 from 18: Congress leader Sajjan Singh Verma in Bhopal pic.twitter.com/sVF1UyeLra
— ANI (@ANI) January 13, 2021
Well, I really really hope that we won’t have to listen to such intolerant and toxic BS in 2022.
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