MLA’s dress code remark: Protests rage on

In a show of protest,around 200 women marched from Sector-10 to the Deputy Commissioner’s office at Mini-Secretariat and demanded that action be taken against Badshahpur MLA Rao Dharampal. Since the Deputy Commissioner’s was attending an event in Farrukhnagar when the women reached his office,they submitted a memorandum to the SDM,Vivek Kalia.

The memorandum states that Dharampal should submit his resignation and retire. They have also demanded that an official complaint be filed against him. The SDM has extended full cooperation,the women members said.

Rajbala Sharma,president,Naari Panchayat,said,“We want action to be taken against the MLA for making such a shameful statement. As a senior leader,he should not be making such remarks on women. If our leaders make such insensitive remarks,who will we turn to?”

Another member,Rita Kumar,said,“What do you expect a coach to wear? She obviously can’t train students in a sari.” A woman advocate,who was also part of the team,said she expected better sense from an MLA.

At a college function on Friday,Dharampal had asked National kabbadi team coach Sunil Dabas to dress “appropriately” for the function in a sari and not in “shirt and jeans”.

Sunil Dabas,who fainted after the incident,is currently being treated at Medanta Medicity Hospital. Her doctors have said they will discharge her soon as her health improves.

The Haryana MLA has maintained his stand that he was had given Dabas advise “as a father”. He said his words should be taken “in good faith”.