Rahul Gandhi's 'sexist' Rafale jibe at PM Modi draws flak

Addressing a rally in Rajasthan, Rahul on Wednesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Rafale by saying he is hiding behind "woman" Nirmala Sitharaman, who is the defence minister.

With Rafale deal as his political plank ahead of the 2019 General Elections, the Congress chief precisely said the "watchman with 56-inch chest" has asked a "woman" to defend him on the pot-boiling issue in the parliament.

Later in the day, Rahul, in his almost routine tweet, asked Modi to "be a man" and answer his question.

He tweeted, "With all due respect Modi Ji, in our culture respect for women begins at home. Stop shaking. Be a man and answer my question: Did the Air Force and Defence Ministry object when you bypassed the original Rafale deal? Yes? Or No?"

NCW reacts:

While the BJP attacks Rahul, the NCW sent a notice to the Congress supremo for his alleged sexist comment.

NCW India chairperson Rekha Sharma tweeted to say, "What is @rahulgandhi trying to imply with his misogynistic statement- “... ek mahila say kaha meri raksha kiijiye."? Does he think women are weak? The irony- calling an accomplished defence minister of the largest democracy a weak person."

Congress hits back at NCW

Congress' woman leader Priyanka Chaturvedi has hit out at the NCW chairperson asking her to stop talking and take action.

Replying to a tweet of Sharma, Chaturvedi said: "Your job is to take action not talk& pay lip service to women’s issues. Waiting for you to send a notice to PM Modi for Supnakha&Congress ki Vidhwa. In case you havent seen the video or read the news will share!If you don’t you will prove that you are merely a political appointee"

Reminding Modi's words where he had allegedly referred to Congress' former president Sonia Gandhi as a "widow", Chaturvedi targeted Sharma saying, " Madam I wish you figured the duties that come with your JOB- Where were you When Unnao &Kathua happened? Increased violence against women since 2014? PM‘s words like Congress ki vidhwa, supnakha? A misogynistic comment a day that came from BJP leaders? Then, silence was golden? "

A video which went viral ahead of the Rajasthan polls in 2018, the Prime Minister was heard saying, "Yeh Congress ki kaunsi vidhwa thi jiske khate mein rupiya jata tha? (Who is this Congress widow on whose account money used to get credited?)"

In another instance, Modi had praised Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina saying he appreciates his counterpart's zero tolerance towards terrorism despite being a "woman".

(Image: Congress Twitter)