'Katiyar's remark exposes BJP's mindset'

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi’s daughter Priyanka Gandhi on Wednesday dismissed BJP leader Vinay Katiyar’s offensive comment about “prettier campaigners” in his party than her saying that “it exposes the BJP’s mindset towards the better half of the population of India.”

Priyanka’s reaction was tweeted by one of her aides, Preeti Sahai: “He’s right...they do! And if that’s all he sees in my colleagues who are such strong, brave and beautiful women that have battled through all sorts of hardships to get where they are, then he makes me laugh even more.”

Katiyar, who was recently dropped from the BJP list of key campaigners, refused to apologise for his comment that there were more beautiful women campaigners than Priyanka in Uttar Pradesh.

“What difference will it make? We have more beautiful star campaigners...heroines, artistes...they are better,” Katiyar said when he was asked whether Priyanka’s foray would make a huge difference to the campaign.

Asked to explain what many called “objectification” of women, Katiyar added to the controversy by remarking that “I think Smriti Irani is as beautiful and she is also campaigning.”

The BJP leader also waded into the Ram Mandir debate saying that “Ram Mandir is an important issue which should be raised every time until it will be built. Ram Temple will be made in Lord Ram’s birthplace. We have done a lot in this regard. There is no need to add Ram Temple issue to the upcoming election but it will be made there.”
DH News Service