‘Skirt wali bai’: BJP lawmaker’s remark on Priyanka Gandhi

With an increasing number of women in politics, the number of sexist comments has also increased. As we near the first phase of polling for Lok Sabha 2019 elections, yet another BJP leader has stoked controversy by allegedly referring to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as "skirt waali bai" (skirt-wearing woman).

Addressing a rally in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, BJP's Jayakaran Gupta said that "One Congress leader loudly asks if 'ache din' have come. He can't see the 'ache din'…Skirt waali bai has started wearing sari and visiting temples, those who hate ganga jal are now visiting the Ganga,".

Few sexist comments have been made since Priyanka Gandhi joined politics in January. Last month, a BJP lawmaker Harish Dwivedi from Uttar Pradesh said, "Priyanka Gandhi wears jeans and top in Delhi but when she comes to rural areas she wears sari ad indoor." Another senior BJP leader, Kailash Vijayavargiya, had said that the Congress was fielding "Chocolatey faces" because it has a shortage of strong leaders. To clarify his stand, he said he had meant film stars and not any political leader.

After the comment received outrage on social and legacy media, the leader backtracked and said that the comment was not intended for anyone in particular.
Sexist comments have also been made time and again against BJP's Smriti Irani and former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.

As always, social media reacted sharply to the sexism. Many wondered why politicians could just not stay off the misogyny, despite the Model Code of Conduct being in effect.