The Election Commissionof India issued a show-cause notice to Congress leader Randeep Surjewala on Tuesday over his alleged “undignified” remarks against actor-turned-politician and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Hema Malini.
The Election Commission called Randeep Surjewala’s purported statement against Hema Malini “undignified, vulgar and uncivilised”.
The commission demanded an action from Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on ensuring respectful public discourse towards women by party leaders and functionaries. Both have been asked to submit their respective responses to the Election Commission April 11.
It “reiterated that election campaign cannot be allowed to become a platform for any kind of dishonor to women”.
What’s the matter?
BJP’s IT department head Amit Malviya shared an undated video on X and accused Surjewala of making some objectionable remarks about Hema Malini.
In the purported video shared by Malviya, Surjewala was heard saying, “Why do we elect an MLA/MP? So they they voice our concerns and…they are not Hema Malini who are elected to lick.”
Meanwhile, in a video shared by news news PTI, Surjewala can be heard saying, “We respect Hema Malini, she is married to Dharmendra and our daughter-in-law. These are film stars, however, you make (elect) us so that we can serve you people. But nowadays, there is a conspiracy to finish the rule of vote.”
However, Surjewala said the video posted by the BJP leader has been edited, distorted and shared to distract the country from the Modi government’s anti-youth, anti-farmer, anti-poor policies and its conspiracy to destroy the Constitution of India.
Reacting to Surjewala’s remark, Hema Malini said that the leaders of the opposition should learn how 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… I am here to file my nomination and on this happy occasion, I do not want to talk about what anyone else said…,” the BJP said.
The Election Commission issued a notice to Randeep Surjewala for his “undignified and uncivilized comments” against BJP candidate Hema Malini. Surjewala has said the undated video was edited and distorted and he never intended to insult or hurt the BJP MP.
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Published: 09 Apr 2024, 05:46 PM IST
