Unfazed by opposition outcry on his "whistle" statement on the Women's Reservation Bill, Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav today said his remark was intentional and not just a slip of tongue.
"Whatever I said was intentional and not just a slip of tongue so that the poor, farmers and workers get angry and there is a debate on the women's bill. These words should ignite their minds," he said at a meeting of party MPs, MLAs and other leaders.
Yadav has drawn flak from women's groups and political parties for his statement on Tuesday that only women belonging to affluent classes including those from families of industrialists and bureaucrats would get the benefit of the bill and "I don't like to say this, but they would be the women youth would whistle at".
"The comment was intended to tell the poor, farmers and workers that how bad people (from the affluent class) feel and how they react when something is said about their women," the SP supremo said. Yadav, however, said he did not intend to insult anyone. "I want to tell those, who are opposing us on the bill that SP gave maximum tickets to women and maximum candidates from the party won," he said. Terming as propaganda the opposition's reaction to his 'sexist' comment, Yadav said besides BJP and Congress even the Communists had joined the "team of baiters".
"Those who are opposing me on this issue are the same people who had opposed Mandal report," Yadav said, adding the SP always struggled on the issue of atrocities against women. The SP chief said he was least bothered about the attack on him and the party. "We are being attacked continuously, but I am not bothered. The only thing we want is that there should be a debate and the reality should reach the people," he said.
{{/usCountry}}"Those who are opposing me on this issue are the same people who had opposed Mandal report," Yadav said, adding the SP always struggled on the issue of atrocities against women. The SP chief said he was least bothered about the attack on him and the party. "We are being attacked continuously, but I am not bothered. The only thing we want is that there should be a debate and the reality should reach the people," he said.
{{/usCountry}}He said even party workers should discuss the issue and realise as to how SP was being ignored by those in power. The SP supremo said if the bill was passed in its present form, women hailing from poor, farmers and labour class families would never be able to reach the Lok Sabha or state assemblies.