Congress seeks Yogi Adityanath apology for remarks on women

The Congress said that “Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah must condemn such disparaging and distasteful remarks” and “issue an advisory, asking him not to use such language again”. Recalling the article posted on Adityanath’s official website, its then editor Pradip Rao told The Indian Express: “I was the editor of weekly Hindavi, the then mouthpiece of Hindu Yuva Vahini. He was the chief editor. When the Women Reservation Bill was being discussed in the Lok Sabha, even BJP had agreed to it. But he was not in its favour. Then he wrote this article in Hindavi.”

He also said that the “article was uploaded on the website a few years ago”. “I and Maharaj ji (Adityanath) completely stand by its contents,” he added. The article said that “our scriptures have always spoken about giving protection to women” because “as energy can go waste and cause damage if left free and uncontrolled, women power also does not require freedom, but protection and channelisation in a useful manner”.

Taking strong exception to the article, Surjewala said: “It is indeed shocking… The most shocking thing he says is that… if a woman becomes powerful, is brave… then she becomes a devil… If this is the mindset and attitude of the BJP, then this is reflective of the policies of the BJP.” Claiming that the article was not only an insult to the women of India, but to every citizen of the country, Surjewala said: “Adityanath must apologise to the women of India…and also remove this article from his website .”