Kumar Vishwas' sexist comments on Kerala nurses triggers storm

Even as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) drew criticism over the alleged racist comments its leader Kumar Vishwas made against nurses from Kerala, the party’s unit in the state distanced itself from the controversy stating that Vishwas’ opinions were “personal”.

In a YouTube clip that has gone viral, Vishwas is seen making offensive and sexist comments against nurses from the state in a stage show that was held years ago.

“Earlier, we would naturally call them ‘sisters’ since they were all dark-skinned nurses from Kerala,” Vishwas says in the clip.  AAP sources in Kerala said the comments made by Vishwas in no way reflected the party’s ideologies and said the video was being shared on social networks by “political opponents”.

“The comments are personal and have nothing to do with what the AAP stands for. We understand that the event was a comic stage show held about five years ago. Whoever is trying to make an issue out of this is eyeing political mileage,” a party functionary told Deccan Herald on Monday.

Vishwas’s remarks have run into serious opposition in the state. Eminent writer Sarah Joseph, who recently joined the AAP, slammed the comments and sought to know if the party leadership endorsed Vishwas’s views. Mahila Congress national vice-president Bindu Krishna demanded action against Vishwas for offending nurses from Kerala.

A group of men carrying Youth Congress flags attacked the AAP office in Kochi in protest against Vishwas. The men hurled stones and vandalised office premises, AAP sources said.