Raje, Brinda slam Sharad Yadav over 'fat' remark

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on Friday demanded action against former JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav for body shaming her during an election rally, saying she felt insulted by his comments and that the Election Commission must take cognisance of it.

On Friday, after casting her vote in Jhalrapatan constituency of Jhalawar, Raje said, "His (Sharad Yadav's) comment had insulted not only me but women as well." It is important, the chief minister asserted, that the EC takes cognisance of this and sets an example.

A video of Yadav was circulated on social media, with many labelling his comments as crass and misogynistic.

Yadav had called her “fat” while appealing to voters in the poll-bound state to not vote for the BJP.

At a rally in Rajasthan’s Alwar, Yadav said, “Vasundhara ko aaram do, bahut thak gayi hain, bahut moti ho gayi hain, pehle patli thi. Humare Madhya Pradesh ki beti hai (Give some rest to Vasundhra, she has become very tired, very fat. She used to be thin. She is the daughter of Madhya Pradesh).”

Slamming Yadav, the BJP condemned his remarks as sexist and filed a complaint with the EC demanding action against Yadav on Thursday.

Brinda slams Sharad

In Delhi, CPM leader Brinda Karat echoed Raje's call for an apology from Yadav.

"A senior leader like Sharad Yadav making such a derogatory comment on a woman leader, who is also a chief minister, is extremely objectionable. He should withdraw his statement and offer an apology," Karat said.

She said that despite her party being at odds with the BJP, such comments against any woman is unacceptable. "We have very strong political differences with the BJP and Vasundhara Raje. We have been very critical of her policies. But such a personal comment against a woman can never be accepted," she said.

Faced with a backlash from various quarters, Yadav said that it was a "joke." He was quoted as saying that it was "not meant" to be derogatory in any way.