Modi trolled for lauding Hasina's courage in fighting terror 'despite being a woman'
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It was meant to be a compliment but it seems to have gone sour.
As he concluded his two-day visit to neighbouring Bangladesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday praised his counterpart Sheikh Hasina for her courage in fighting terrorism "despite being a woman".
"We know solution for everything, but not terrorism," the Prime Minister is reported to have said in his hour-long address to Dhaka University.
"I am happy that Bangladesh Prime Minister, despite being a woman, has declared zero tolerance for terrorism."
Even though the remark was meant to be a gesture of praise, social-media users interpreted it as an insult to women around the world.
Back home, Twitter started buzzing with tweets attached with pictures of women achievers of India: scientists from the Indian Space Research Organisation, foreign ministers, sportswomen and more.
This isn't the first time an Indian politician has made a sexist comment.
In 2012, Narendra Modi found himself in a similar situation when he attacked Congress politician Shashi Tharoor at a rally with an insult against his late wife Sunanda Pushkar. Modi referred to Pushkar as a "50 crore ki girlfriend".
"Wah kya girlfriend hai," he said. "Apne kabhi dekha hai 50 crore ka girlfriend?"
(What a girlfriend! Have you ever seen a Rs 50-crore girlfriend?)
Here's a selection of reactions on Twitter as the hashtag #DespiteBeingAWoman trended.
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This article originally appeared on Scroll In.
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On DawnNews
Comments (49) Closed
Jun 08, 2015 06:25pm
Poor choice of words. Modi needs to be a bit more diplomatic.
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Jun 08, 2015 06:25pm
May be he was saying women are more tolerant generally ... despite being a man!
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Jun 08, 2015 06:29pm
PM modi should promptly apologize for this remark. There is no other way.
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Jun 08, 2015 06:30pm
The PM of India is a charlatan. A smoke and mirrors expert. His latest "gaffe" is a misogynist comment about the Bangladeshi PM, "We know solution for everything, but not terrorism. I am happy that Bangladesh Prime Minister, DESPITE BEING A WOMAN, has declared zero tolerance for terrorism." A general mind-set of men in India! It has resulted in "despitebeingawoman" hashtag on Twitter. Modi's veiled criticism of China during his visit to Japan in September last year and his remarks in South Korea last month about migration had also sparked a Twitter backlash. Modi's foreign policy ‘achievements’ get lost in the noise about his "politically incorrect statements".
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Jun 08, 2015 06:32pm
u can see how effectively he is governing that critics cant something to criticize in his performance therefore resorting to the last tactic of manipulating his words :) Indian media is best when it comes to misrepresent and manipulate any sentence even if he was 100% right they may have found something else as they always do with everyone :)
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Jun 08, 2015 06:35pm
Such misogynist mindset is a real issue in South Asia!
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Jun 08, 2015 06:35pm
Modi the best PM ever Indian history,
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Jun 08, 2015 06:40pm
That was a stupid thing to say!
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Jun 08, 2015 06:40pm
Misinterpretation by the creative people of social sites.
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Jun 08, 2015 06:50pm
Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina has changed the political atmosphere of South Asia after assuming power in 2009.
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Jun 08, 2015 07:22pm
@M. Emad
How? Please explain...
Before her there were Sirimavo Bandarnaike (Sri Lanka), Indira Gandhi (India), Benazir Bhutto (Pakistan)...so am wondering what Sheikh Hasina achieved that these departed souls failed to
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Jun 08, 2015 07:22pm
Modi's entire speech at the Dhaka University campus is available on NDTV site. It would be seen from that the intent was clearly to compliment the PM of Bangladesh. Modi is known for his oratory skills. After hearing the speech, many had a feeling that he could have won an election to the Bangladesh Parliament also.
R.S. Menon, Bangalore
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Jun 08, 2015 07:24pm
You should listen to Hasina's interview to BBC about Bangladeshi treatment of fleeing Rohingya Muslims trying to get into Bangladesh.
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Jun 08, 2015 07:24pm
Intension and guts is the main, not the gender.
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Jun 08, 2015 07:26pm
This is known as making non issue a issue...I support my Prime minister's statement ..and these social site people does not understand situation of our countries..so they comment to get attenion
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Jun 08, 2015 07:32pm
Hope that Bangladeshis issue is no more used to create hatred.
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Jun 08, 2015 07:50pm
where is trolling?
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Jun 08, 2015 07:51pm
what a piece of work this guy is
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Jun 08, 2015 08:03pm
@RAJ I guess you're being sarcastic :)
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Jun 08, 2015 08:06pm
Intent was right.
But misinterpreted.
Anyways read bangla paper to know the common peoples feedback
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Jun 08, 2015 08:22pm
Modi is a hero. A man with a vision. A man with a passion.
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Jun 08, 2015 08:27pm
totally disagreed. In 1971 Indra Gandhi was prime minister
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Jun 08, 2015 08:28pm
Hanging handicapped senior political opponents and silencing opposition by killing bloggers; is it courageous fight against terrorism. Nationalists are always short sighted and narrow minded. She needs to be Inclusive in her politics, not exclusive.
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Jun 08, 2015 08:34pm
Try to sympathise with Congress. Without a trace of scam in BJP government, the drowning party is catching straws like this. Feel sorry for them. If this way they will do politics then they are not coming to power in next 25 year.
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Jun 08, 2015 08:36pm
Just a case of poor choice of words. No need to overreact!
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Jun 08, 2015 08:38pm
A sentence can be interpreted in many many ways. Pro-Modi wallahs will take it as a compliment. Anti-Modi wallahs will take it in a -ve way and lam-bast/troll. The same Modi takes blessings from his mother, wonder if these trolls find something offensive in that and say he is sexist hence took blessings from his mother who is a woman!!
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Jun 08, 2015 09:00pm
Any reaction from the woman in "despite being a woman"?
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Jun 08, 2015 09:19pm
For kind your information, under the premiership of Indhra Gandhi Bangladesh was seperated from Pakistan,who was a woman. In 1974 India exploded first nuclear bomb under the ruling of woman prime minister. India always boast of these two incidents, coincidently which were taken place under the leadership of woman PM of India. In Pakistan Shaheed mohtarma Benazir Bhutto became the first woman prime minister of Islamic countries. There are so many precedents even in India, where women have become limelight. Shaikh Hasina Wajid will not mind your remarks because she is at the beck and call of India, sometimes she plays the role of a chief minister of Indian state not the prime minister of Bangladesh. Please do not demoralize the woman.
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Jun 08, 2015 09:26pm
A woman in the world is considered weaker in physical strength and therefore, what Modi meant was despite being considered a woman - normally considered soft and kind person, she stood out in rooting out militancy and terrorism from Bangladesh and served justice to her citizens.
This is an achievement not so small is the essence of her praise. If twisted minds, need to comment on each and everything, it is their problem. Not Modis'.
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Jun 08, 2015 09:34pm
modi and sheik hassina are great politicians.
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Jun 08, 2015 09:38pm
He has given max opportunities to women in India. Without any reason some of you are making an issue of of it.
You just cannot shake this man ........
He is at his best
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Jun 08, 2015 09:43pm
"How should I praise a woman for her courage which she has shown in a society which makes life difficult for women"
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Jun 08, 2015 09:46pm
Modi has praised Bangladesh PM and Madam PM has no problem. Modi's critics are trying to catch any straw to survive Modi tsunami. We can laugh it off as keyboard warriors keep us amused.
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Jun 08, 2015 11:15pm
Please See the Intention behind Modi's words.It is praise for her,since terrorism is
a difficult matter.Any country facing terrorism is yet to succeed,yet she took early
and bold step.Thus no need to misinterpret the praise.
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Jun 08, 2015 11:48pm
Modi of front page everyday! You can love him or hat him, but u can't ignore him
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Jun 09, 2015 12:13am
Both irrelevant leaders letting their own countries down, but one a master of the other.
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Jun 09, 2015 12:14am
if I am not wrong then misogyny signifies a palpable hatred for women. how can so many people see misogyny in modi's statement is beyond me. if anything, it betrays the general prejudice of a patriarchal society which treats women as weak, meek and docile, thus incompetent of taking tough stands and decisions.
but from no angle it's a misogynist remark.
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Jun 09, 2015 12:51am
This man is the Clinton of INDIA he can do no wrong. Bangladesh should be happy he is complimenting then
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Jun 09, 2015 01:13am
The maturity in Indian political class leaves a lot to desire... Is this a issue?? the context in which he said this has been conveniently ignored. I am ashamed that I am born in this era.
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Jun 09, 2015 01:51am
The immediate taking to task of the PM is heartening to note and is also hilarious! I think the reaction from the common people speaks volumes about the direction in which society is headed rather than the comments of one man, PM though he may be.
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Jun 09, 2015 03:27am
His defence ministers commoness is getting to him.Him and his entire cabinet need coaching in "how to use the appropriate words"
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Jun 09, 2015 03:30am
Let's face it! He is a chai wala from India and not a sophisticated Parliamentarian,
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Jun 09, 2015 03:58am
That means PM Modi thinks women are weak! Simple.
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Jun 09, 2015 05:27am
The comment can be interpreted based on mentality of reader. Is someone negative will find it as misogynist. He is surely positive about women.
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Jun 09, 2015 06:06am
When women are described as weaker sex, what is objectionable in Modi's statement?
All the pseudo liberals should first objet to women as being described as weaker sex
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Jun 09, 2015 06:39am
In south Asian countries compared to men, it is twice as hard for a women to achieve anything. The glass ceiling is very low. So Modi's remark was not against women but the culture that we have, which puts many obstacles in the path of women.
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Jun 09, 2015 10:43am
what did he say wrong? in south east asia, it is not easy being a woman, whether educated or not, employed or not. the problems they face in day to day life are numerous. ask a woman who goes to office, has to look after her house, children, as her about the problems she faces on her commute to office. there is always to abide by the dictats of the men.
and the problems, a woman faces in an islamic country are more in numbers and severity.
what modi meant was, despite facing all such problems, the bangladeshi pm, not only has a mind of her own but also has to the courage to use it for the good of her country.
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Jun 09, 2015 11:27am
Very few of the liberal left in India expected Modi to become the PM. Now they wait for every tiny instance to pounce on him. But Modi is ignoring them and going on with his work.
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Jun 09, 2015 11:28am
@Hamid Totally agree. People are able to see through this.
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