As the campaigning intensifies ahead of the Maharashtra state assembly, the INDI alliance is facing another controversy for making derogatory remarks against a BJP leader.
On 1st November, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Arvind Sawant asserted that Shiv Sena’s candidate Shaina N C from Mumbadevi was a BJP member all her career and has suddenly decided to make a shift. His further remark was problematic as he stated, “Imported ‘maal’ doesn’t work here; only original ‘maal’ does.” Referring to Shaina N C as ‘imported maal’.
Regarding the ‘imported maal’ comment, Shaina N C has filed an FIR in Nagpada police station under sections 79 and 356 (2) for outraging the modesty of a woman.
Taking it to X, Shaina questioned why women MLA candidates contesting for MVA are silent on this particular issue. She wrote, “They should not make the mistake of thinking of me as some helpless woman. I have been working in politics for the last 20 years and have fought for women’s rights. I will continue to fight like this in the future. I am a woman, not a commodity (mahila hoon, maal nahi).”
However, this isn’t the first time that leaders of the INDI alliance, especially the Indian National Congress have made such derogatory remarks against women in politics.
In the year 2013, veteran Congress leader Digvijay Singh made a sexist remark against their party leader and Member of Parliament Meenakshi Natarajan calling her a ‘sau tunch maal’. He said, “Our party MP, Meenakshi Natrajan is a Gandhian, simple and an honest leader. She keeps going from place to place in her constituency. I am a seasoned smith of politics. Meenakshi Sau Tunch Maal hai.”
Be it 2013, or 2024, the word ‘Maal’ still remains derogatory in reference to women in politics.
INDI Alliance Remarks Against Kangana Ranaut
BJP MP and leader Kangana Ranaut has been the target of derogatory and sexist remarks across party lines in the INDI alliance from Shiv Sena (UBT) to the Indian National Congress.
In 2020, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut called Kangana Ranaut a ‘Har*mkhor Ladki’ which received a huge backlash. Later justifying himself, Raut said “ I just said…if you have a problem with Mumbai then don’t come here. Haramkh*r remark has also been taken out of context…in Marathi, it means ‘beiman’ or ‘naughty’. I said it in that context.”
Similarly, during the 2024 General Assembly campaigning, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate posted on X referring to Kangana Ranaut saying, “Kya Bhav Chal Raha Hai Mandi Main?”
As Ranaut was contesting from Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, this was an extremely derogatory remark against a woman from a woman leader herself.
Randeep Surjewala’s Remark Against Hema Malini
In the same 2024 General Assembly elections, Congress leader Randeep Surjewala stirred controversy as he made sexist and derogatory remarks against actor-turned-politician from Bharatiya Janata Party Hema Malini.
Though the video posted by BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya was undated, it showed Randeep Surjewala making a vile sexist comment. Surjewala said, “Why do people elect their MLAs/MPs? So that they (MLAs/MPs) can raise the public’s voice. It’s not like Hema Malini, who was elected to lick.”
Defending himself, Surjewala claimed that the video was edited and distorted.
Such comments by prominent political leaders across party lines in the INDI alliance aren’t new. Be it Samajwadi Party’s Azam Khan’s extremely vile derogatory comment against BJP leader Jaya Prada stating her ‘Khaki Underpants’ or former Chief Minister Kamal Nath’s ‘Item’ remark against a Dalit leader comment.
The bigger question here stands with the women in politics, especially those who faced such sexism themselves. After resigning from the Indian National Congress, Priyanka Chaturvedi (now Shiv Sena UBT leader) stated that the party had reinstated workers who were suspended for their unruly behavior with her leading to her resignation. However, the Rajya Sabha MP hasn’t questioned Arvind Sawant’s statement against a fellow female politician.