He exposes BJP's mindset: Priyanka tears into UP MP's sexist comment

New Delhi: Scoffing at Vinay Katiyar for his sexist remarks against her, Priyanka Gandhi today said it exposes the BJP's mindset towards the better half of the country's population while the Congress sought an apology for insulting women.

Congress hit out at Katiyar, saying it reflects the "petty and insulting culture of BJP that commodifies women" and accused the BJP of insulting India's womanhood for which Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah should apologise.

"If that's all BJP sees in my colleagues who are each strong, brave and beautiful women that have battled through all sorts of hardships to get where they are, then he makes me laugh even more. Because he exposes the BJP's mindset towards the better half of the population of India!!!," Priyanka Gandhi said in response to Katiyar's remarks.

When asked about Priyanka being named as a star campaigner by Congress for Uttar Pradesh polls said, Katiyar had said, "It doesn't matter...there are girls and women who are more beautiful than her (Priyanka) and are also star campaigners." "Some of them are artists and heroines...they are more beautiful than her," he said.

Speaking to NDTV later, Katiyar said, "I was responding to reporters. I said Priyanka is beautiful but others are beautiful too". He added that he had "huge respect" for Priyanka and that "she can say what she likes".

Coming down heavily on the firebrand BJP leader, better known for pushing the Hindutva agenda, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said BJP has "insulted" India's womanhood and such conduct, behaviour and words prove BJP's mentality. "BJP has insulted India's womanhood. Such conduct, behaviour and words prove BJP's mentality. Time for PM Modi and Amit Shah to apologise," he said.

Surjewala said BJP-RSS suffer from a "deep rooted and retrograde anti-women mindset. There is a long list led by Mohan Bhagwat and Kailash Vijayvargiya". "Disparaging and atrocious remarks of Vinay Katiyar on Priyankaji reflect the petty and insulting culture of BJP that commodifies women.

"To adjudge India's women by physical features and not by their capacity, capability, strength and sacrifice proves the lowly BJP mentality," he also said. The Congress leader also said that if Modi and Shah have any respect left for women in the country, they should display courage by initiating strict action against Katiyar for his remarks otherwise women will show their power by voting against the BJP.

Priyanka's husband Robert Vadra attacked the BJP leader and demanded that Katiyar publicly apologises for his "misogynist" and atrocious" remarks. "Shocked at misogynist and atrocious remarks of BJP MP Vinay Katiyar saying there were 'prettier star campaigners' in his party than Congress's Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. This exposes the shameful mindset of some of our political leaders.

"We all need to respect women and accept them as equals instead of commoditising and objectifying them. As a society, we need to bring in a change. Vinay Katiyar should publically apologise for his remarks," Vadra, who is also Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law said in his Facebook post.