Chandigarh, March 12 – Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Member of Parliament, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, appealed to the National Commission for Women on Thursday to take cognizance of the "misogynistic and derogatory" remarks made by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann against women.
In a letter to the Commission Chairperson, she stated that the Chief Minister, while addressing students at the Punjab Agriculture University in Ludhiana, had referred to women as "yellow wasps" and "Pakistan's flag," depending on their attire, and had also falsely told his friends about a relationship with one girl.
"Even more disturbingly, one of the girls who had refused his advances during his college days was forced to receive him at a function in the college where he had studied and had been invited as a chief guest," she said.
Harsimrat Badal said that the manner in which these anecdotes were recounted during the function, held to mark International Women's Day before the academic community, trivialised the dignity of women and appeared to "glorify hooliganism, eve-teasing, and the objectification of women."
Asserting that such remarks were highly unbecoming of a constitutional functionary and the head of a state government, Harsimrat Badal said that the fact that Mann had made these derogatory comments at a meeting with impressionable college students sent a dangerous message that the dignity of women could be trivialized and their identity reduced to their appearance for public amusement and cheap thrills.
The Bathinda MP said that this was a fit case for registering a case under Section 74 (sexual harassment), Section 79 (insulting the modesty of a woman), and Section 75 (addressing acts intended to outrage the modesty of a woman) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita of 2023.
She said that such acts also violated the constitutional guarantees provided under Articles 14, 15, and 21 of the Constitution, which ensured equality before law, prohibited discrimination based on sex, and safeguarded the dignity and personal liberty of every citizen of the country.
In her letter, she stated that the dignity and respect of women should remain non-negotiable in public discourse, particularly when statements originated from those entrusted with governance and leadership.
"I sincerely hope that the National Commission for Women will treat this matter with the seriousness it deserves and take appropriate action in accordance with the law," she added.
