Clashing with Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Rafale deal has put opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in a tight spot with the apex statutory body for women's rights, who issued a notice to him on Thursday over an allegedly sexist remark he made in a recent tweet. The body has asked Gandhi, president of the Congress Party, to come up with an explanation for his remarks and issue an apology.
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"We have asked for an explanation from Rahul Gandhi for why he said and what he said on Wednesday in two his tweets. The statement was pathetic, sexist and misogynistic. That is why we have sent him a notice," NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma said.
Sharma lamented the Congress chief's sexist remarks even though the party has had great women leaders, including the likes of Indira Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi.
"In the Congress party where women are the strongest including great leaders like Indira Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, we don't expect such sexist remarks from him," the women's commission chief observed.
"Rahul has to apologise for his remarks against our defence minister Ms Nirmala Sitharaman," demanded Sharma.
The opposition leader found himself embroiled in controversy after he slammed the PM over the multi-billion dollar Rafale defence deal, seemingly making a sexist comment in the process. The opposition has sought to implicate the Modi government in corruption and nepotism in the deal.