‘They only know how to cook’: Congress MLA gets embroiled in controversy over sexist remark

Senior Congress MLA Shamanur Shivashankarappa landed in a controversy with his remarks on the candidate nominated by the BJP for the Davangere parliamentary seat in south Indian state of Karnataka.

BJP nominated the wife of incumbent MP and former union minister GM Siddeshwara Gayathri Siddeshwara for Karnataka’s Davangere parliamentary seat.

While addressing a party workers’ meeting, Shivashankarappa criticized the qualifications of Siddeshwara and claimed that he did not have the ability to effectively address public issues.

“As you all know she wanted to give lotus flower to Modi by winning the elections. First, let them understand the problems of Davangere. We (Congress) have done developmental work in the region. It’s one thing to know how to talk, but they know only to cook in the kitchen, the opposition party doesn’t have the strength to talk in front of the public,” said Shivashankarappa.

The 92-year-old Congress leader is the oldest MLA of the party and has been elected as the MLA five times from Davangere South. The leader’s daughter-in-law Prabha Mallikarjun has been selected by Congress for the seat in the upcoming polls.

Responding to Shivashankarappa’s comments, Gayathri Siddeshwara talks about women making a mark in different professions, which includes those which have traditionally been dominated by men.

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“He said it in a way that we should only cook and remain in the kitchen. What profession are women not in today? We are even flying in the sky. The old man doesn’t know how much women have progressed, he doesn’ t know the love with which all women cook at home for men, children and elders,” said Siddeshwara.

The BJP has condemned the comments of Shivashankarappa and filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India, said party spokesperson Malavika Avinash.

(With input from agencies)