UP minister rates woman DMs for beauty, raises stink

Even as the nation strives to improve the lot of women, an Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister has set a new low. Khadi minister Raja Ram Pandey made a comparison of the physical attributes of the past and present woman district magistrates from a public stage. HT reports.

Even as the nation strives to improve the lot of women, an Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister has set a new low.

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Khadi minister Raja Ram Pandey made a comparison of the physical attributes of the past and present woman district magistrates of Sultanpur from a public stage on Monday.

The sexist remarks led to a widespread demand for Pandey’s sacking.

After distributing cheques to unemployed youths, Pandey suddenly started praising the beauty of DMK Dhanlakshmi— also present.

He said he was lucky that the district had yet another '…lady DM, referring to the previous DM Kamini Chauhan Ratan.

“Mujhe lagta tha ki unse sunder mahila DM nahi ho sakti, par is baar jab main prabhari mantri hoon to (current) DM unse bhi adhik sunder hain,” he said. (I used to think she was the most beautiful woman DM, but this time when I took interim charge I found the present DM was more beautiful).

Pandey was nowhere to be found on Wednesday. While Ratan now on deputation to Delhi couldn’t be reached, Dhanlakshami too remained unavailable, despite repeated attempts.