Kiran Choudhry and Kumari Selja Slam Jai Prakash for 'Anti-Women' Comments

A political storm has erupted in Haryana following controversial remarks made by Congress MP Jai Prakash about women's entitlement to political legacies. The comments have drawn sharp criticism from across the political spectrum, with former Congress member Kiran Choudhry leading the charge. 

Choudhry's Call for Expulsion 

Kiran Choudhry, who recently joined the BJP, has demanded that the Congress party expel Jai Prakash for his comments. Speaking to reporters in Bhiwani, Choudhry stated that Prakash's remarks reflect an "anti-daughter mindset" within the Congress leadership. She pointed out that such statements indirectly challenge the legacies of prominent women leaders like Indira Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. 

Choudhry highlighted a personal example to counter Prakash's stance. She recalled how her late father-in-law, Bansi Lal, had symbolically passed on his political legacy to her daughter, Shruti Choudhry, by placing his pagri (turban) on her head during a public gathering in Bhiwani.

Selja's Rebuke of 'Patriarchal Mindset' 

Congress MP Kumari Selja also weighed in on the controversy, describing Prakash's comments as reflective of a "patriarchal mindset." Selja emphasized that the statement was an insult to women's empowerment, a cause that the Congress party, particularly through Priyanka Gandhi's efforts, has been championing. 

"Has he forgotten that Indira Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi carried forward their family legacy?" Selja questioned, pointing out the glaring contradiction between Prakash's statement and the party's history of women leadership. 

BJP Joins the Criticism 

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has seized upon this opportunity to criticize the Congress. BJP state general secretary Archana Gupta held a news conference in Rohtak, where she accused the Congress of consistently humiliating and harassing women. 

Gupta argued that Prakash's comments were a prime example of why leaders like Kiran Choudhry and Shruti Choudhry felt compelled to leave the Congress. She demanded that both Jai Prakash and the Congress party apologize for the remarks that demean women. 

The BJP leader also posed rhetorical questions about the legacies of Indira Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi, challenging Prakash's logic. "Did Sonia Gandhi become such a strong woman by coming to India from Italy without any legacy? Did Priyanka Gandhi become the national general secretary of Congress without any legacy?" Gupta asked. 

This controversy has reignited discussions about gender equality in Indian politics. While all parties claim to champion women's rights, incidents like these reveal the persistent challenges women face in the political arena. As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how the Congress party will respond to calls for Prakash's expulsion and whether this incident will have lasting implications for women's roles in Indian political dynasties.