Defiant Sharad Yadav defends 'sexist' remarks

JD-U leader Sharad Yadav, who is facing severe criticism including from the National Commission for Women for making "sexist" remarks, on Wednesday defended his comment that a vote's value was higher than a daughter's honour, saying he had said "nothing wrong".

"I said that the way one loves a daughter, if a person loves votes the same way, then only the society will progress the country will progress. What is wrong in that?" he argued.

Addressing a meet in Bihar on Tuesday, he had said that "if a daughter's honour is violated, then only her neighbourhood, her village will lose its honour. But if a vote is sold, it is the country's honour that goes". The video of Yadav's comment has been aired by several TV channels and has gone viral on social media.

Janata Dal-United leader K.C. Tyagi also sought too defend his party colleague.

"If a daughter is (sent) to a wrong place, one house is destroyed but when a vote goes wrong, the entire country has to pay the price like we are doing it now," said Tyagi in an apparent reference to the Narendra Modi government at the Centre.

"That is what Sharad ji wanted to convey. He had no intentions of making a sexist remarks. But if this has hurt the sensibilities of any woman, we are sorry for that," he added.

--IANS

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