Congress leader Kamal Nath's 'item' remark against woman minister triggers controversy, draws NCW's ire

Gandhis won't take action against Kamal Nath as people like him run the family's kitchen, says Smriti Irani

Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath's remarks against a woman Minister in Madhya Pradesh has triggered a controversy with the National Commission for Women (NCW) on Monday issuing a notice to him and writing to the Election Commission against his "irresponsible and disparaging" statement.

While Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and BJP leaders sat on a two-hour silent fast in protest in various locations in the state, Union Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani attacked the Gandhi family saying it would not take action against Kamal Nath as people like him “keep the fire burning in Gandhi family’s kitchen”.

Nath on Sunday made the controversial remark during a bypoll campaign meeting in Gwalior's Dabra where the BJP has fielded Imarti Devi, a Dalit who left the Congress along with Jyotiraditya Scindia that led to the fall of Congress government in the state. He had said that the Congress candidate was a "simple person" unlike the opponent who was an "item".

Describing the remarks as "offensive and derogatory," the NCW said it has sought an explanation from Nath besides forwarding the matter to the Election Commission for taking necessary action.

Strongly condemns the "irresponsible and disparaging statement", it said, "At a time when we want more women to enter politics, such disrespectful remarks against a woman leader, that too from a person holding such a responsible position is very unfortunate."

Irani accused the Gandhi family of remaining silent on Nath's statement. "I can't understand why the Gandhi family has chosen to remain silent. This is not the first time that a Congress leader from Madhya Pradesh has spoken horribly about women political activists. There was the case of Digvijaya Singh earlier," she said.

Read | Kamal Nath's 'item' remark reflects Congress's crooked mentality, says Shivraj Singh Chouhan

"I find absolutely no justification that Kamal Nath-ji can give for using such derogatory word against a female political activist. For the life of me, I cannot understand why the Gandhi family chooses to be absolutely silent on this issue...Do you really think that the Gandhi family will take action against Kamal Nath? I don't think so. These are the people who keep the fire burning Gandhi family's kitchen," she added.

BSP supremo Mayawati also hit out at Kamal Nath and asked Dalits to vote for the BSP to teach the Congress a lesson over this remark.

"Congress senior leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister's indecent comment against a Dalit woman contesting bypolls from Dabra in Gwalior (division) is grossly anti-woman, highly shameful and highly deplorable," Mayawati tweeted.

In various places in Madhya Pradesh, Chouhan, Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar and BJP MP Jyotiraditya Scindia among others sat on a two-hour silent fast in protest against the Congress leader.

On Sunday, Chouhan attacked Nath saying it showed the "crooked and despicable mentality" of the Congress. "You have not just disrespected Smt Imarti Devi, but each and every girl and sister of Gwalior-Chambal region...Kamal Nathji, who gave you the right to play with the respect of women?," Chouhan said in a tweet in Hindi on Sunday.

Bypoll for 28 Madhya Pradesh Assembly seats is scheduled for November 3 and the counting of votes will be held on November 10.