Mulayam not sorry, justifies 'sexist' remarks

Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on Thursday in reference to his recent 'sexist remark' said that it was a thought-after and deliberate one and indeed led to the effect he desired. He said it was not a slip of tongue, reports Pankaj Jaiswal.

Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on Thursday in reference to his recent 'sexist remark' said that it was a thought-after and deliberate one and indeed led to the effect he desired. He said it was not a slip of tongue.

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Two days ago at a public rally, Yadav said that the women's reservation bill send only elite women into parliament whom youths would whistle at.

At a meeting of MPs, MLAs (both sitting and former), office bearers, and party workers held at the state headquarters, Yadav said that the statement indeed triggered a controversy leading to discussion on the subject. And he was ready to discuss it even more.

The SP chief drew flak from women's groups and rival political parties for his 'sexist' remark.

He again explained that once the bill came into force, men would be out of the Lok Sabha in the eleventh year of the bill's implementation.

Advocating reservation for women within political parties instead, Yadav said it should be made mandatory for them to give 15 to 20 per cent tickets to women. In fact, the Thursday meeting also passed a resolution on this.

Mohan Singh, the national general secretary of the party said that it was most likely that Mayawati would have election before her term ends. "Don't think that elections are away. They are near. The way Mayawati has begun holding rallies and sit-in indicate that she has begun preparations for elections and would not wait for the full term," said Mohan Singh.