INDIA’S Union Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal found himself at the centre of a controversy on Tuesday (October 2) after remarking that wives lose charm over time. His comment sparked outrage among women’s groups which called it “disgusting and derogatory”.
Facking flak for his remarks at a Kavi sammelan in Kanpur on Sunday night, Jaiswal offered an apology, saying he had no intention to hurt the sentiments of women.
Jaiswal also came under attack from opposition Bharatiya Janata Party which raised questions on his continuance in the Union Cabinet.
Protestors including women burnt effigies of Jaiswal and blackened posters with his face on it in his home town in Kanpur.
Jaiswal, who was addressing the sammelan when news of India’s victory over Pakistan in a ICC World Twenty20 match in Sri Lanka came in, said that like an old victory wives lose charm as time goes by.
Observing that people became excited after India’s victory, Jaiswal said, “New new victory and new new wedding, both of them have their own importance. As time will pass, the victory will become old. As time passes wife also becomes old, that charm does not sustain.”
Jaiswal claimed on Tuesday (October 2) his comments were misconstrued and taken out of context and that he apologised for the same if they had hurt the sentiments of women.
“The comment is really derogatory,” said Mamata Sharma, Chairperson of National Commission for Women(NCW) while BJP’s women’s wing chief Smriti Irani called the remarks “preposterous and disgusting”.
