This Article is From May 06, 2016

Lok Sabha Speaker Reprimands BJP Lawmaker For Saying 'Women Fear Flying MiG-21s'

Lok Sabha Speaker Reprimands BJP Lawmaker For Saying 'Women Fear Flying MiG-21s'

"Don't speak like that," Speaker Sumitra Mahajan (in pic) told Mr Meghwal firmly. She then turned to the Defence Minister and asked "Do you agree?", to which he immediately replied in the negative. (File Photo)

New Delhi: BJP chief whip in Lok Sabha Arjun Ram Meghwal was cautioned today by the Speaker for saying that women are afraid of flying MiG-21 fighters due to its high accident rate.

While asking a supplementary to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on induction of women in IAF's combat stream, Mr Meghwal said "women are afraid of flying MiG 21s due to their high accident rate."

"Don't speak like that," Speaker Sumitra Mahajan told Mr Meghwal firmly. She then turned to the Defence Minister and asked "Do you agree?", to which he immediately replied in the negative.

Mr Meghwal then sought to explain that what he actually meant was that an awareness should be orgainsed at NCC and school level against the fear of flying.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said since the MiG 21 is a single-engine fighter jet, any problem in the machine means the pilot has to eject to safety.

He said the government has stressed on improved maintenance of the aircraft and India has achieved a very low accident rate in the last decade, including the lowest in 2013.
 
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