Talking about sex ratio, Khattar mentions Kashmir girls

CHANDIGARH: Haryana CM ML Khattar courted a controversy by remarking at a function that youth in Haryana could have the option of looking towards Kashmir and not just Bihar for potential brides

Updated At : 12:20 PM Aug 11, 2019 IST

Haryana Chief Minister Mohan Lal Khattar. File photo

Tribune Web Desk
Chandigarh, August 10

Close on the heels of a sexist remark by a BJP MLA from UP, Haryana Chief Minister Mohan Lal Khattar has triggered a similar controversy by remarking at a function that “some people are saying that youth in Haryana could have an option of looking towards Kashmir and not just Bihar” for potential brides.

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“Earlier, the ratio was terrible. As against 1,000 boys, we just had 855 girls, and due to our relentless campaign, the number now has gone up to 933. From 855 it has gone up to 933. The youth and elderly could now have to stare at another worry. The girls may soon outnumber boys. Dhankar ji (minister O P Dhankar) has said that we used to look towards Bihar for potential brides. Now some people are saying that we can look towards Kashmir also. While they are joking, sex ratio is a serious issue,” Khattar said.

Meanwhile, the Haryana government downplayed the remarks.

"Weak, insecure and pathetic" are adjectives people use for the President of the Congress Party. Manufacturing statements & subsequently destroying their own party does not work in the long term.
— Manohar Lal (@mlkhattar)

Media advisor to Haryana Chief Minister, Rajiv Jain, said that it was stated in a lighter vein.

Dear ji, at least at your level, you shouldn’t react on distorted news. I’m attaching the video of what I actually said, and In what context - this will give you clarity of mind.
— Manohar Lal (@mlkhattar)

"While talking about improving sex-ratio in the state, CM said that jokes were going on in social media that earlier daughter-in- laws used to be brought from Bihar now they could be brought from Kashmir. For us scrapping of Article 370 is national integration," Jain added. However, his comments have triggered strong political reactions.

Haryana CM, Khattar's comment on Kashmiri women is despicable and shows what years of RSS training does to the mind of a weak, insecure and pathetic man. Women are not assets to be owned by men.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi)

Last week, a BJP MLA from Khatauli in Muzaffarnagar, Vikram Singh Saini, had urged youth of the state to “marry fair girls of Kashmir”, and expressed a desire to settle down in Kashmir where “everything is beautiful,” comments that he later repeated before reporters.