Arun Yadav Hema Malini remark: Surface-level data would suggest women have made strides, as far as representation goes, in the field of politics by assuming greater roles of leadership. But a closer examination will reveal the reality is far different than what meets the eye. Though women politicians are making their voices heard at grassroots, local and national levels, they are unfairly disadvantaged when political oppositions launch attacks.
The language in the Indian political arena, which is largely dominated by male leaders, is deeply sexist. A recent exhibit comes from Arun Yadav, head of Madhya Pradesh Congress, who allegedly compared the inflation in the country to actor-politician Hema Malini, a leader of the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
"During the Congress rule, inflation was called a ‘dayan’ (witch) and now when the inflation has further gone up, it has become an ‘apsara’, it has become Hema Malini," he said while campaigning in Khandwa for the upcoming by-elections. A video of his speech was shared by BJP, which took a shot at Congress' Priyanka Gandhi who, these past days, has rallied extensively for girl power. Earlier this week, she announced her party would reserve 40 percent seats for women in the Uttar Pradesh elections next year.