JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav during a debate in Parliament
Politician Sharad Yadav made a bad situation considerably worse today when he said "I know what you are" to Education Minister Smriti Irani when she urged him to refrain from making offensive remarks about women's complexion in Parliament.
Mr Yadav, who is a top leader of the Janata Dal (United) or JDU, was unapologetic today about his remarks last week on "saanvli" (dark-complexioned) women. "What have I said?" he asked, rebutting the criticism he has received since his comments on Thursday. "Saanvli (dark complexioned) women are more in number in India, they are more in number the world over," he said, adding that he is ready for a parliamentary debate on the controversy.
"I appeal to the gentleman (Yadav) not to make comments on colour of skin of women in this manner," said Ms Irani. That provoked Mr Yadav to declare, "I know what you are" as Ms Irani and other lawmakers objected strongly. Mr Yadav later told NDTV that he "like (Abraham) Lincoln is raising the issue of discrimination on the basis of skin colour." He also said it would be futile to expect an apology from him.
The issue resurfaced in Parliament after Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said he wished to dissociate himself from the comments made by Mr Yadav last week. "I appeal to Sharad Yadav to kindly withdraw his comments," he said. The minister had been mentioned by the 67-year-old from Bihar when Mr Yadav deviated from a discussion on the Insurance Bill to talk about "our affinity for people with white skin."
When DMK lawmaker Kanimozhi stood up, he brushed her protest aside, saying: "Your God is dark like Ravi Shankar Prasad, but your matrimonial ads insist on white-skinned brides," adding, "The bodies of women from the south are as good as they are beautiful." Those remarks led to angry reactions within and outside Parliament.