Union Minister Smriti Irani on Thursday took a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, saying, “Ghar par ladka hai par lad nahi sakta” (There’s a boy at home who cannot fight). Her remark was in response to Mr Gandhi’s sister and party leader Priyanka’s slogan for her party- “Ladki hoon, lad sakti hoon” (I am a girl and can fight).
Meanwhile, Irani’s remark did not only mock Rahul but Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav too.
Uttar Pradesh assembly elections which are due early next year will be fought on the issue of the development, said Ms Irani.
"We expect policy and development-led discussions, strengthening democracy," she added, in response to the Congress's campaign slogan for the upcoming state polls.
On Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's "Ladki hoon..." slogan, Irani said this means “Ghar par ladka hai par lad nahin sakta.” Priyanka Gandhi tossed
the slogan during her announcement last month that the Congress will field woman candidates for 40% of the UP assembly seats.
In response to Priyanka Gandhi's proposal to give 40 percent of the seats to female candidates, the Union Minister for Women and Child Development stated, "This means she is saying
she does not want to give 60 percent of the seats to women."
Considering the gender gap in India, the Union Minister stated that India has the highest number of women in political offices in the world, based on their participation in the country's
three-tier governance, including the posts of panch and sarpanch.
"I'm not saying that people shouldn't try in politics and democracy. Politics entails both winning and losing. I lost in 2014 as well, but the question is how much faith people
have in your efforts," she said.
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"Do people feel that way about that person?" she asked, referring to Rahul Gandhi.
She stated that women leaders should not be expected to care for only female members of society.
"When we talk about women leaders, why do we say they have to work only for women? Why don't we say that for men as well?" she said.
"When we give someone constitutional responsibility, that person's role includes working as much for men, children, and elders as they do for women," she explained.
In response to a question about whether the BJP uses the polarisation formula, she said, "Do you think the citizens of this country cannot do political analysis and will fall for a
formula?"
Responding to Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav's reference of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Muhammad Ali Jinnah in the same sentence, she slammed the SP chief, saying, "Ladke
hain, lad nahin sakte." (Boys are incapable of fighting.)"
"Sardar Patel is unparalleled. Sardar Patel is responsible for establishing a sense of unity among 500 princely states. "Imagine how Virat (magnanimous) that personality must be,"
she said.
"Can you compare that person to that gentleman (Jinnah) who said let us divide the country based on religion?" she inquired.
"One worked to unite the country, while the other worked to split it," she emphasised.
Mr Yadav recently referred to Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, Jawaharlal Nehru and Muhammad Ali Jinnah as leaders who fought for India's independence, spurring criticism from the BJP.
Smriti Irani on Arvind Kejriwal
The BJP leader also responded to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's statement that Hindutva is everyone's right, not just one party's, by saying there is a distinction between
opportunistic Hindus or political Hindus and 'Sanatan' Hindus.
"However, it is also true that we live in a democracy, and which religion one chooses to follow is a personal choice," she added.