Jaiswal’s jibe on conjugal bliss brings him lonely sorrow
3 Oct 2012 2:00 AM GMT
A casual statement made by the coal minister Sripraksh Jaiswal during a poetry evening in Kanpur has earned him widespread criticism from women's groups, political opponents and on the social media. During the programme, he had said, 'Jaise-jaise samay beetta hai, patni purani hoti jaati hai; woh maaza nahi hota hai [As the time passes, the wife gets old; it's not the same fun then].'
As TV channels played his statement on Tuesday, Jaiswal offered an apology for the controversial and sexist statement. Explaining his stand, Jaiswal said, 'My remarks have been totally taken out of context. I was inaugurating a kavi sammelan when the news of the cricket victory came. The audience was in a celebratory mood, and I said that a fresh victory when celebrated is good, like a new marriage.'
Slamming Jaiswal's remark, the Left leader Brinda Karat told Millennium Post, 'This shows a mindset which is very retrograde and certainly not expected from a minister.' The National Commission for Women chairperson Mamta Sharma criticised him, saying, 'What the coal minister said is very wrong. You cannot compare a woman to a victory. As years go by in a marriage, relations become stronger. He used wrong language for women and he should apologise. We will write to the prime minister and the Congress president Sonia Gandhi on the issue.'
His party, however, steered clear of the controversy. The Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said, 'Since the coal minister has already clarified, explained and apologised, the matter should rest there.'
As TV channels played his statement on Tuesday, Jaiswal offered an apology for the controversial and sexist statement. Explaining his stand, Jaiswal said, 'My remarks have been totally taken out of context. I was inaugurating a kavi sammelan when the news of the cricket victory came. The audience was in a celebratory mood, and I said that a fresh victory when celebrated is good, like a new marriage.'
Slamming Jaiswal's remark, the Left leader Brinda Karat told Millennium Post, 'This shows a mindset which is very retrograde and certainly not expected from a minister.' The National Commission for Women chairperson Mamta Sharma criticised him, saying, 'What the coal minister said is very wrong. You cannot compare a woman to a victory. As years go by in a marriage, relations become stronger. He used wrong language for women and he should apologise. We will write to the prime minister and the Congress president Sonia Gandhi on the issue.'
His party, however, steered clear of the controversy. The Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said, 'Since the coal minister has already clarified, explained and apologised, the matter should rest there.'
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