Women’s groups demand action

Women’s organisations in the country are up in arms against Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav for making disparaging comments against Mainpuri district magistrate Ministhy S.

“We don’t take such remarks kindly, whether they are passed by a political leader or a common man. Yadav should have chosen his words carefully. He should be more gender sensitive. The election commission should take strong action against such leaders,” Sudha Sundaram, secretary All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), said.

The National Commission for Women (NCW) said the EC should take immediate action against Singh and stop politicians from making comments or gestures that reflect gender bias. “Singh’s remarks against a woman poll officer were shameful. Since the code of conduct is in place, we expect the EC to take strong action against the SP leader,” NCW member Manju Hembrom said.

In a similar incident last November, Madhya Pradesh tourism minister Tukoji Rao and BJP candidate from Dewas Phool Chand Verma were arrested and jailed for misbehaving with a woman returning officer before the state assembly polls.

Sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Sanjana Jain lodged a complaint against them for obstructing official work and threatening her following a dispute over a poll-related issue. Both were booked under sections 353 and 504 of the Indian Penal Code.