The Congress leader, 92 and a five-time MLA from Davangere South, is the senior-most MLA of the party.
Bangalore:
Senior Congress MLA Shamanur Shivashankarappa has courted controversy with his recent comments on BJP nominee for Karnataka parliamentary seat in Davangere, Gayathri Siddeshwara, wife of sitting MP and former union minister GM Siddeshwara.
Speaking at a meeting of party workers, Mr Shivashankarappa discredited Ms Siddeshwara’s qualifications and alleged that she is incapable of tackling public issues effectively.
“As you all know, she wanted to give a lotus flower to Modi by winning the elections. Let them first understand the problems of Davangere. We (Congress) have been doing development work in the region. It is one thing to be able to talk, but They only know how to cook in the kitchen, the opposition party does not have the strength to talk in front of the public,” Shivashankarappa said.
The Congress leader, 92 and a five-time MLA from Davangere South, is the senior-most MLA of the party. His daughter-in-law Prabha Mallikarjun is Congress’s choice for the seat for the upcoming elections.
Responding to Mr. Shivashankarappa’s comments, Gayathri Siddeshwara highlighted the progress women have made in various professions, including those traditionally dominated by men.
“He said it in a way that we just had to cook and stay in the kitchen. What profession are women not in today? We even fly through the air. The old man doesn’t know how many women have progressed, he doesn’t know.’ I know the love with which all women at home cook for men, children and elders,” said Ms. Siddeshwara.
The BJP has condemned Mr Shivashankarappa’s comments and filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India, party spokesperson Malavika Avinash said.