Congress steers clear of Hassan's 'menstruation' remark

The Congress on Tuesday termed party leader M.M. Hassan's remark on women as a personal view, making it clear that the party believes in equality.

"I don't think it is right to confuse this kind of casual personal comment with a party view. This is his personal comment. The party by no means posses any such views on women," Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi told ANI.

He added that the Congress has the highest respect and believes in equality.

"As far as feminine gender is concerned, there should be real, de facto and operational equality not an informal one," Singhvi said.

In a shocking remark, Hassan had said that menstruation is impure and women should not enter places of worship during that time.

"Menstruation is impure and during this period women should not enter temples. There is a scientific reason behind the instruction that women should enter during this period. It should not be given other interpretations. During this period, Muslim women do not observe fast. My opinion is that women should not go to temple, mosque or church when their body is impure," he said at a public function after he took over as KPCC's interim president.