Rajya Sabha, in its first sitting in the new Parliament building, witnessed sparring between Mallikarjun Kharge and Nirmala Sitharaman after the former’s remarks that political parties picked weak women as candidates and wouldn’t choose those who’re educated and can fight. “Largely, ladies from backward and scheduled castes are not that literate. Their literacy rate is low, because of which all political parties have a habit of nominating weak women,” Kharge, who is the Leader of Opposition in the Upper House, said.
“They (parties) won’t choose those who’re educated and can fight,” the Congress leader said. “I know how backwards and scheduled caste people are chosen by political parties,” Kharge said, amid protests from treasury members, who took exception to his remarks. Kharge was speaking in the Upper House after Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the new Women’s Reservation Bill earlier today during the first sitting of the Lok Sabha in the new Parliament complex. Soon after Kharge’s remarks, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, on behalf of her party, registered a strong protest stating that Kharge’s sweeping statements was absolutely unacceptable. “We respect the leader of the Opposition but to make a sweeping statement that all parties choose women who are not effective is absolutely unacceptable.
