The Election Commission of India (ECI) issued a formal warning to Randeep Surjewala, a prominent member of the Congress party and a Member of Parliament, on Tuesday. This came in response to comments he made last week about Hema Malini, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Member of Parliament from Mathura, which were deemed offensive and sexist.
The Election Commission has additionally requested a response from Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge regarding measures taken to ensure the firm adherence to its guidelines on preserving the respect and dignity of women in public discussions by party leaders.
In a shameful utterance, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala’s video passing cheap comments on BJP MP Hema Malini has gone viral on social media. pic.twitter.com/IJZPnWHvp2
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) April 3, 2024
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In a video circulated by the BJP, Surjewala was recorded stating, “Why do people elect their MLAs/MPs? So that they (MLAs/MPs) can represent the public’s voice. It’s not like Hema Malini, who was elected to lick.”
In response to Surjewala’s alleged remark, the actor-politician stated that the Congress tends to target popular figures because criticizing unpopular ones wouldn’t benefit them in any way.
#WATCH | Mathura, UP: On Congress leader Randeep Surjewala’s statements on her, BJP MP Hema Malini says, “… They target only popular people because targeting the unpopular ones won’t do them any good… They should learn how to respect women from PM Narendra Modi… I am here… pic.twitter.com/9FnPXTmqN4
— ANI (@ANI) April 4, 2024
The Election Commission emphasized that Surjewala’s alleged comments were deemed undignified, vulgar and uncivilised. They noted that such remarks not only dishonored Hema Malini and undermined her role as a Member of Parliament but also inflicted harm on the reputation and dignity of female legislators from various political backgrounds, women in public roles, and women in society at large.
Mathura, one among the 80 constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, is scheduled to cast its votes during the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections on April 26. The vote counting process is set to occur on June 4.
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