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Indian prime minister branded sexist for comment to Bangladeshi counterpart Indian prime minister branded sexist for comment to Bangladeshi counterpart
(35 minutes later)
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi has sparked outrage after he praised his Bangladeshi counterpart for her courage to fight terrorism “despite being a woman”, triggering an avalanche of criticism on social media site Twitter. The Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, has sparked outrage after he praised his Bangladeshi counterpart for her courage to fight terrorism “despite being a woman”.
#DespiteBeingAWoman was one of the top trends on the micro blogging site on Monday, with users expressing anger at what they said was a bigoted and sexist remark and posting pictures of famous female scientists, politicians and athletes. #DespiteBeingAWoman was one of the top trends on Twitter on Monday, with users expressing anger at what they said was a bigoted and sexist remark and posting pictures of famous female scientists, politicians and athletes.
#DespiteBeingAWoman Marie Curie won a Nobel Prize both in Physics and Chemistry.#DespiteBeingAWoman Marie Curie won a Nobel Prize both in Physics and Chemistry.
#despitebeingawoman pic.twitter.com/70e2bAbLpM Modi, who was on a two-day official visit to neighbouring Bangladesh, told an audience on Sunday at Dhaka University that his counterpart, Sheikh Hasina, showed she was committed to ending the terrorism that has plagued both south Asian nations.
Modi, who was on a two-day official visit to neighbouring Bangladesh, told an audience on Sunday at Dhaka University that prime minister Sheikh Hasina showed she was committed to ending the terrorism that has plagued both south Asian nations.
The ​​prime ​​minister of Bangladesh, despite being a woman, is openly saying that she has zero tolerance for terrorismThe ​​prime ​​minister of Bangladesh, despite being a woman, is openly saying that she has zero tolerance for terrorism
“The world has still not found a solution on how to tackle terrorism. Even the UN is not in a position to provide guidance,” said Modi. “I am happy that the prime minister of Bangladesh, despite being a woman, is openly saying that she has zero tolerance for terrorism. I would like to congratulate Sheikh Hasina for her courage to deal with terrorism with zero tolerance,” he added. “The world has still not found a solution on how to tackle terrorism. Even the UN is not in a position to provide guidance,” said Modi. “I am happy that the prime minister of Bangladesh, despite being a woman, is openly saying that she has zero tolerance for terrorism. I would like to congratulate Sheikh Hasina for her courage to deal with terrorism with zero tolerance.”
Twitter users went into a frenzy early on Monday as Modi’s comments were picked up by local media, with many taking potshots at the Indian leader’s remark. “How can you even say or think #despitebeingawoman when your own country had a great female PM way before most first world countries! Shame!” tweeted a Mumbai-based fashion blogger from the twitter handle @Fashionopolis. Twitter users went into a frenzy as Modi’s comments were picked up by local media, with many taking potshots at the Indian leader’s remark. “How can you even say or think #despitebeingawoman when your own country had a great female PM way before most first world countries! Shame!” tweeted a Mumbai-based fashion blogger from the twitter handle @Fashionopolis.
“Mentality of Men’s supremacy remains in the mind of Men always to show down the woman with words like #DespiteBeingAWoman,” tweeted user Panchal under the handle @NotNewToAny1.“Mentality of Men’s supremacy remains in the mind of Men always to show down the woman with words like #DespiteBeingAWoman,” tweeted user Panchal under the handle @NotNewToAny1.
Some users chose sarcasm to make their point. “ok. off to work. after cooking sending kid to school to write big story and run errands. like every other woman i know #despitebeingawoman,” tweeted Gayatri Jayaraman, senior editor at India Today.Some users chose sarcasm to make their point. “ok. off to work. after cooking sending kid to school to write big story and run errands. like every other woman i know #despitebeingawoman,” tweeted Gayatri Jayaraman, senior editor at India Today.
Users also posted images of successful women – including former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi and former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, civil rights campaigner Rosa Parks, education activist Malala Yousafzai and physicist Marie Curie – under the hashtag #DespiteBeingAWoman. #despitebeingawoman pic.twitter.com/70e2bAbLpM
Users also posted images of successful women – including the former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi and former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, the civil rights campaigner Rosa Parks, education activist Malala Yousafzai and physicist Marie Curie – under the hashtag #DespiteBeingAWoman.