World

Modi draws flak for ‘despite being a woman’ comment about Bangladeshi PM

Modi’s comment triggers an avalanche of criticism on Twitter

Afp June 08, 2015

PHOTO: AFP

MUMBAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sparked outrage after he praised his Bangladeshi counterpart for her courage to fight terrorism "despite being a woman".

Triggering an avalanche of criticism on Twitter, #DespiteBeingAWoman soon became one of the top trends on the micro-blogging site on Monday, with users kept expressing anger at what they said was a bigoted and sexist remark. Those who criticized also posted pictures of famous female scientists, politicians and athletes.
Read: India, Bangladesh seal border pact as Modi visits

Modi, who was on a two-day official visit to neighboring Bangladesh, on Sunday told an audience at Dhaka University that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina showed that she was committed to ending terrorism which had plagued both South Asian nations.

"The world has still not found a solution on how to tackle terrorism. Even the United Nations (UN) is not in a position to provide guidance," Modi said. "I am happy that the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, despite being a woman, is openly saying that she has zero tolerance for terrorism. I would like to congratulate Sheikh Hasina for her courage to deal with terrorism with zero tolerance," he added.

Twitter users went into frenzy early on Monday as Modi's comments were picked up by local media, with many taking pot-shots at the Indian leader's remark.

https://twitter.com/Fashionopolis/status/607765373463621635

Mentality of Men's supremacy remains in the mind of Men always to show down the woman with words like #DespiteBeingAWoman
— भारत जोडो न्याय यात्रा #GintiKaro (@NotNewToAny1) June 8, 2015

Some users chose sarcasm to make their point.
https://twitter.com/Gayatri__J/status/607763598962589696

Users also posted images of successful women - from former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, to civil rights campaigner Rosa Parks and education activist Malala Yousafzai to physicist Marie Curie - under the hashtag #DespiteBeingAWoman.

COMMENTS (8)

Raj - USA | 8 years ago | Reply I agree Modi made a mistake and should have ben careful. However, Modi only emphasized the fact that woman still face lots of hurdles in that region. I am also sure that most woman, including Sheikh Hasina will not take it negatively. Nawaz Sharif also mentions "Deharti Aurat". At times, woman in that region themselves taunt men by saying "Choodian pehan rakha hai".

Sahil | 8 years ago | Reply @nirmal: He may be listed as a criminal in Google (mistakes happen), but is respected all over the world. Every country of significance laid a red carpet world for him. Who cares for your country and PM????