Union Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Giriraj Singh, has set caused a flutter in the political circles by making reference to Congress president Sonia Gandhi's “white skin”. Social media was abuzz with criticim over the Minister's remarks, which were described as “racist” and “misogynist”.
The Minister while speaking in Hajipur was reported to have said: "If Rajiv Gandhi had married a Nigerian lady and not a white-skinned woman, then would the Congress have accepted her leadership?"
Reacting to his comments, an outraged Congress party said the Minister's “intemperate and distasteful remarks border on insanity.”
Party spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala in a statement said: “It appears that continuous quest to appease Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made him lose his balance. Such remarks are reflective of lack of moral fibre in BJP and its cadre. Giriraj Singh is known for similar vexation in the past. In the run-up to the 2014 Parliamentary elections, he asked everybody opposing Mr. Modi to leave India and go to Pakistan.”
The Congress also attacked the BJP for failing to reign in its senior party members who have been making such offensive remarks. “Current Modi Cabinet and BJP MPs appear to outdo each other in this boisterously shameful conduct. We recently saw Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, another Union Minister, pass ‘Raamzada’ vs. Haraamzada’ remarks during Delhi elections. Sakshi Maharaj, another prominent BJP leader and Member of its National Executive, recently called Mahatama Gandhi’s killer Nathuram Godse as a martyr and a great Nationalist besides describing women to produce 12 children. Another Union Minister, VK Singh has in the past almost branded the Indian Army Chief as a criminal and has recently again expressed disgust through twitter in performing his duties as Minister,” Mr. Surjewala said.
Criticising the Minister on social media, Kavita Krishnan of the All India Progressive Women's Association said: “BJP Min Giriraj Singh says Sonia Gandhi is Congress president because she's fair. BJP Goa CM tells protesting nurses the sun will darken them and worsen marriage prospects. Giving Sharad Yadav competition! Why are these men so scared of dealing with women political opponents politically?! Why change the topic to women's skin colour and marriage prospects?!”.
