Modi draws flak for ‘despite being a woman’ comment about Bangladeshi PM
Modi’s comment triggers an avalanche of criticism on Twitter
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.
Some users chose sarcasm to make their point.
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.
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.
Some users chose sarcasm to make their point.
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.