Singer attacks Rahul Gandhi after his “derogatory” comment on Aishwarya Rai

Sona Mohapatra questioned the need for such comments in a scenario already rife with gender discrimination.

New Delhi:

Singer Sona Mohapatra on Wednesday criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his recent remarks targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai over the inauguration ceremony of Ram temple in Ayodhya last month. In a series of tweets, Ms Mahapatra defended Aishwarya Rai against derogatory comments and criticized the practice of politicians exploiting women for political gain.

In a recent public address during the ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, Rahul Gandhi took a dig at the BJP over the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ program organized at the Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22. The Congress leader said OBCs and Dalits, who constitute 73 per cent of the country’s population, were conspicuously absent from the grand ceremony which was attended by billionaires and Bollywood celebrities.

Rahul Gandhi had said, “Did you see the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony at the Ram temple? Was there even a single OBC face there? There was Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai and Narendra Modi.”

Expressing her disapproval, Ms Mahapatra questioned the need for such comments in an already sexist scenario.

“What has happened that politicians are insulting women in their speeches so as to raise some issues in a gender discriminatory scenario? Dear Rahul Gandhi, surely someone in the past has insulted women like your own mother (Sonia Gandhi), sister (Priyanka Gandhi ), and even though you should know better? Also, Aishwarya Rai dances beautifully,” the singer posted on X.

Are politicians humiliating women in their speeches to gain some mileage in a sexist scenario? Dear #RahulGandhi Has anyone really insulted your mother, sister in a similar manner before and you should know better? Too, #Aishwarya Rai Dances beautifully.🙏🏾

— Sona Mohapatra (@sonamohapatra) 21 February 2024

The grand inauguration ceremony of Ram Temple was presided over by PM Modi and was attended by many celebrities. Rahul Gandhi said, “I did not see a single farmer there. I did not see a single laborer and I did not see a single small shopkeeper. But all the billionaires were seen and they were giving long speeches to the media there.”

The Congress leader pointed out the glaring difference between the privileged few who participate in grand events like the Ram Mandir ceremony and the daily challenges faced by ordinary citizens.