New Delhi: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui made controversial remarks regarding the Women’s Reservation Bill, fearing “what if someone in the name of women would come for job…”

Speaking in the ‘Awareness Conference’ in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, Abdul Bari Siddiqui suggested that women should be given reservation on grounds of backward classes and others. He also appealed people to distance themselves from TV and social media until 2023 Lok Sabha Elections.

He said, ‘In women’s reservation, it is better if you fix quota for extremely backward, backward and others also, otherwise if women with powder, lipstick and bob cut in the name of woman will come in the job, will your women get the right?’

Appealed People To Botcott Television Till Lok Sabha Elections

During his address, Abdul Bari Siddiqui asked people to boycott TV and said, ‘Stay away from TV and social media. If you study for the sake of it, neither your prestige nor ruling would increase. So, take an oath and do not watch it at least till the Lok Sabha elections.”

“All socialists should take an oath that they will boycott TV at least till the Lok Sabha elections. This will not stop you from eating. You will have to take this resolution in this conference otherwise this resolution has no meaning. Take a pledge that we would remember the insult to our ancestors. We will educate our children and fight for our share. We will follow the path shown by Lohia,” said the RJD leader.

Siddiqui’s Response To His Comments

When Siddiqui was about his remarks, he said he used it as an example for better understanding of rural audience. He had no intentions of hurting anyone, he added.

Meanwhile, RJD backed Bari’s ‘Bob cut-Lipstick’ statement as party spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari said that Siddiqui, whose background is largely rural, used a metaphor to make his point clear to the audience.

JDU statement

JDU has distanced itself from the statement of RJD leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui. JDU MLC Khalid Anwar said, “JDU can never support the statement given by Abdul Bari Siddiqui. Our leader Nitish Kumar respects women.”

“We believe that women have the right to choose whether to wear lipstick or not, how to get their hair cut. Abdul Bari Siddiqui is an old socialist leader. We had also made a demand on the Women’s Reservation Bill in the case of women belonging to backward classes,” he added.