Row over Congress MLA’s ‘fit to cook’ remark on woman BJP candidate

Addressing Congress workers recently at Bunts Bhavan, Shivashankarappa said, “She can’t even speak properly. She is fit to cook food at home. Let her understand the problems of Davanagere before seeking public support in LS polls.”  “She is asking voters to back the BJP in the LS polls so that she can present the lotus to Modi,” he said.

“Woman should be restricted to the kitchen”- This is what a top Karnataka leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa ji has said . This sexist jibe at @bjp4india candidate from Davanagere Gayathri Siddeshwara ji is least expected from a party that says Ladki Hoon Lad Sakti Hoon

When I…

— Saina Nehwal (@NSaina) March 30, 2024

Gayathri expressed anguish over Shivashankarappa’s remark and said it seems that ‘Ajja’ (elderly person) is not aware that women are making a mark in every sector today. “Shamanur Shivashankarappa has insulted women with his remarks. Are we confined only to the kitchen?” she asked. “PM Narendra Modi has given importance to women empowerment. But these people keep insulting women,” she said.

On X, former World No1 badminton player Saina Nehwal said, “‘Woman should be restricted to the kitchen’- This is what a top Karnataka leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa ji has said. This sexist jibe at @bjp4india candidate from Davanagere Gayathri Siddeshwaraji is least expected from a party that says ‘Ladki Hoon, Lad Sakti Hoon’.” Saina, who joined the BJP in 2020, sought to know what the Congress party would have preferred her to do when she won international medals for India on the playfield.

BJP leader Shaina Chudasama Munot alleged, “Whether it is S Shivashankarappa or Congress, they are all anti-women. Indian women are worthy to be scientist, pilot, etc. However, they are typecasting women.”