New Delhi: The Election Commission issued a notice to Congress leader Randeep Surjewala on Tuesday, for his alleged undignified and uncivilised comments against Bharatiya Janata Party candidate, Hema Malini. The EC has sought a response from the Congress leader latest by April 11, as per an ANI report.
The poll panel has also asked Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge to take action to ensure that party leaders and functionaries maintain a respectful public discourse towards women. The EC emphasised that election campaigns must not become platforms for any form of dishonour towards women.
Kharge will have to submit the response by April 11 on steps taken by the party to ensure strict compliance of the Commission’s advisories upholding the honour and dignity of women during public discourse by all party leaders.
Surjewala in a statement clarified that he never intended to insult or hurt the actor-politician after facing criticism from BJP leaders over alleged objectionable statements. He stated that a video shared by BJP’s IT department head Amit Malviya had been edited and distorted to divert attention from the Modi government’s policies.
“BJP’s IT Cell has developed a habit of editing, distorting and spreading fake news so that it can distract the country from the Modi government’s anti-youth, anti-farmer, anti-poor policies and failures and its conspiracy to destroy the Constitution of India,” Surjewala stated.
“Listen to the full video… I said: We also respect Hema Malini a lot because she is married to Dharmendra ji and is our daughter-in-law,” Surjewala added.
Meanwhile, in response to remarks made by Surjewala, BJP MP Hema Malini said that opposition leaders should learn to respect women from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“They target only popular people because targeting the unpopular ones won’t do them any good… They should learn how to respect women from PM Narendra Modi,” she said.
Earlier, the National Commission for Women filed a complaint with the Election Commission against Surjewala for using alleged derogatory remarks against Hema Malini.
In a post on X, the NCW said, “National Commission for Women strongly denounces the deeply offensive remarks made by Randeep Surjewala. The remarks are extremely misogynistic and outrageous to the modesty of a woman. Chairperson Rekha Sharma has formally written to the Chief Election Commissioner, urging immediate action against Soorjewala and requesting an action taken report within three days.”
