Another sexist remark by BJP MP: Chhattisgarh women are becoming “Tana-Tan”

A BJP Member of Parliament from Chhattisgarh, Bansilal Mahato, has come up with a sexist and derogatory remark. He was caught on camera making a comment that the state’s girls are becoming ‘Tana-Tan’.

While addressing a crowd at a wrestling competition, organised as part of Gandhi Jayanti celebrations, he said:

“State sports minister Bhaiyalal Rajwade often tells me that there is no need for Mumbai and Kolkata girls. Girls of Korba and Chhattisgarh are becoming ‘Tana-Tan’,” the 77-year-old Mahato, who represents Korba seat in Lok Sabha, said.

Reportedly, Legislator and Janata Congress Chhattisgarh leader Amit Jogi was also present in the function. “It’s very unfortunate for a veteran MP to make such unsavoury remarks,” he said.

Bansilal Mahato is not alone to make such remarks on women. When it comes to gender sensitivity, other BJP leaders don’t have the best track record.

Earlier, during the election campaign, the Chief Minister of Haryana, Manohar Lal Khattar, had made a comment blaming women for India’s rising number of rapes.

“If a girl is dressed decently, a boy will not look at her in the wrong way,” said Khattar.

Responding to a question on whether young people should have freedom of choice, the BJP politician said, “If you want freedom, why don't they just roam around naked? Freedom has to be limited. These short clothes are western influences. Our country's tradition asks girls to dress decently.”

On Khap Panchayats - which have faced criticism for harsh rulings - Khattar said, “Khaps maintain the tradition of a girl and boy being brother and sister. They are just making sure that a girl and boy do not see each other in the wrong way. These rulings help prevent rapes too."

Khattar went on to dismiss premarital sex, calling it 'ulti seedhi cheezein'. "Pre-marital sex is a blot. Sex after marriage is acceptable. Pre-marital sex happens as the minds of the girls and boys are not on the right track,” reported The Quint.

Recently, Goa's Art and Culture Minister Dayanand Mandrekar's statement also triggered controversy.

“Today, a woman is so immersed in TV, that the fact that her husband has arrived home and has changed clothes does not matter to her. She is not even in the frame of mind to ask him whether he would like to have a cup of tea or not,” he said.

In 2014, after two Dalit girls were gangraped and murdered in Badaun, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister and BJP leader Babulal Gaur stoked a controversy when he said, “It is a social crime which depends on the man and the woman. It is sometimes right and sometimes wrong,” reported The Citizen.

On July 21, 2012, referring to the Guwahati molestation case, the then Madhya Pradesh Industries minister, Kailash Vijavargiya. had said, “Women's fashion, lifestyle and conduct should be in accordance with Indian culture. Women should not wear clothes that provoke others.”