Congress seeks UP CM Adityanath's apology for anti-women remarks

New Delhi : The Congress on Tuesday castigated Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over his remarks against women and asked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to clear its stand in this regard.

Congress leader Randeep Surjewala accused Adityanath, who has completed one month as the state chief, of belittling women. "According to Adityanath, an independent and strong woman is akin a demon. A woman cannot be allowed to be independent," he said.

"He should apologise for making such a comment but his spokesperson has said that he stand by his comments. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) must clear its stand on this," he added.

Adityanath had in an article which provoked sharp criticism said, "Shastras have talked about giving protection to women. Just like urja (energy) left free and unchecked causes destruction, women also don't need independence, they need protection and proper channelization.

Stree shakti (women power) is protected by the father when a child, by the husband when an adult and by the son in old age. Women cannot be left independent or free."

According to reports, the concerned article first appeared in Adityanath's weekly journal in 2010 when the Women's Reservation Bill was being discussed in the Parliament.