NDPP women organisation has expressed shock at the alleged sexist comment made by leader of the opposition, T.R. Zeliang in his speech on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 during the recently-concluded third session of the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA).
It also demanded a public apology from Zeliang to all women, besides retracting from his remark made in NLA.
NDPP women body claimed that Zeliang had on February 25 allegedly told the house that: “As the saying goes, no man can serve two masters. Of course, some men can please two girls but no man can serve two masters”.
According to the women’s wing, such “callous and insensitive language” was not only unbecoming of a person of the stature of a leader of opposition, who was also formerly chief minister, but was also a “direct insult and degradation” of all women.
It also expressed astonishment that a person who is a father to a daughter and a husband could make such “chauvinistic and derogatory” comment against women in the House, which was the highest decision-making body in the State.
And when the entire world was talking of gender equality, the NDPP women wing asked what kind of example was the leader of opposition trying to set for the younger generation to follow. Or, it asked whether this was the way that he actually perceived women.
“When people the world over, including in India and Nagaland, are trying to fight against molestation, harassment and assault on women, we have a people’s leader who is making such remarks in a House of law makers. Is this what is expected of our leaders whom we have elected to protect our rights and defend our dignity?” the women’s wing wondered.
The women’s wing clarified that its communiqué was not meant for making a political statement, but to protect and defend the dignity and liberty of women in general and Naga women in particular.
Asserting that it would not tolerate any person, an elected member or otherwise, to “demean, belittle and insult women intentionally or otherwise”, the women’s cell reminded Zeliang that women in Naga society had always played a proactive role, supporting the men folk in every way, working shoulder to shoulder in the fields, offices, homes and even politics. Perhaps, holding high office had made him forget the sacrifices his mother, wife and daughter had made for him, it quipped.
The NDPP women body appealed to all right-thinking citizens, both men and women, to come forward and condemn such “derogatory, callous, insensitive, irresponsible and chauvinistic” statements made against women.
Reiterating to stand firm with the party’s commitment towards gender equality, it declared that it was prepared to defend any woman from discrimination and abuse.