‘Mahabharat’ over Modi’s ‘Ramayan’ jibe at Renuka
New Delhi, February 8
A ‘Mahabharat’ played out today over Narendra Modi’s ‘Ramayan’ jibe at Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury, with the Congress forcing Rajya Sabha to adjourn and its women’s wing demanding an apology from the Prime Minister for his “utterly sexist and disgusting” remark.
A feisty Chowdhury threatened to move a privilege motion against Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju for tweeting a video of Modi making the sarcastic comment against her. Rijiju, however, said he just wanted to show how Modi kept his cool despite the “vexatious” laugh.
“This is highly objectionable and I am going to file a privilege motion (in Rajya Sabha),” Chowdhury told reporters minutes after Rijiju posted the prime minister’s video.
Mahila Congress chief Sushmita Dev dubbed Modi’s comment as “utterly sexist” and “downright distasteful”. “I express my shock at the utterly sexist and downright distasteful comment against an honourable Member of Parliament, made by none less than the honourable PM of India,” she said.
Replying to the debate on the motion of thanks to the President’s address in the Rajya Sabha yesterday, Modi had claimed the concept of Aadhaar was mooted in 1998 by then Home Minister LK Advani, who spoke about a universally used national identity card.
As Modi sought to shear the previous Congress government of the credit for Aadhaar, Chowdhury burst into a guffaw that resonated across the House chamber and drew the disapproval of Chairman Naidu.
“What happened to you? If you have some problem, go to a doctor, please,” an irritated Naidu told Chowdhury. Smiling broadly, Modi requested Naidu not to restrain the Congress MP. “Ramayana serial ke baad aisi hansi sunne ka saubhagya aaj jaake mila hai. (After Ramayana serial, we’ve now had the privilege of listening to this kind of laughter),” he said.
Though the Prime Minister did not name the character, national TV channels showed ‘Surpanakha’, the sister of ‘Ravan’, the antagonist in epic Ramayana, laughing hysterically. — TNS & PTI
