HDK offers ladies an apology
Former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy apologized on Monday after drawing harsh criticism for his comments that rural women had become lost or misguided due to the Congress government’s guarantee programs. At a joint news conference with activist Girijamma, President of Akhila Bharata Karmika Hitarakshne Vedike Kumaraswamy expressed regret for the remarks he had made.
“I apologize if my remarks offended any moms. I have never disrespected a woman and I never will… I’m not putting my reputation at risk because I’m apologizing. I would want to ask the state’s mothers: You get Rs 2,000 from them (the Congress administration), and you take Rs 5,000 out of your husbands’ purses. He stated, “I’ve advised moms to exercise caution in this area and to strengthen their financial position.
The contentious remark was made by Kumaraswamy on Saturday at Turuvekere, Tumakuru constituency, and it caused a rift. Using statements from other politicians as leverage, he defended himself against, among others, the claimed “vulgar” remarks made by former assembly speaker K R Ramesh Kumar regarding women in the assembly and the remark made by Danavagere MLA Shamanuru Shivashankarappa about BJP candidate Gayathri Siddeshwara that she was better off staying in the kitchen. Girijamma reported to the State Women’s Commission that she had filed a complaint against Shivashankarappa and Surjewala.
Kumaraswamy further cited remarks made by AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala against Mathura BJP MP and actress Hema Malini, as well as a social media post by Congresswoman Supriya Shrinate regarding Mandi (Himachal Pradesh) BJP candidate and star Kangana Ranaut. Following his remarks against Hema Malini’s election, Surjewala received a notice from the ECI.
The Congress filed a complaint against Kumaraswamy with the ECI, claiming that his remarks were deliberate and had offended women’s modesty. KPCC vice-president V S Ugrappa said, “His intention is to woo male voters in favor of BJP and JDS candidates in all 28 parliamentary constituencies.”
