BJP MP Poonam Mahajan on Monday said that every Indian woman, including herself, has faced sexual harassment at some stage.
Speaking at the Reb brick Summit at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, Mahajan said that self-pity should not be the response to such experiences.
“I used to take a train to my classes in Versova from Worli. I could not afford to travel by car at the time. But I did not feel self-pity that someone was looking at me in a disagreeable way. Every woman on this planet, especially in India, has faced that,” said Mahajan.
“Every Indian woman has had remarks passed about her or has been touched inappropriately,” she added.
Highlighting the status of women in Indian mythology, Mahajan said, “We connect goddesses to every aspect of life. In some respects, we are ahead of America”.
“They do not have a woman president. But in India, women have assumed the role of President, Prime Minister, defence minister, and chief ministers. These leaders have broken the glass ceiling. It is up to us to continue that tradition. It is up to us not to harbour self-pity. If someone harasses you, slap him and don't think why he did that,” she said.
Following Mahajan's statement, the National Congress Party (NCP) said that the BJP MP should disclose the name of the person who harassed her sexually.
"Daughter of Pramod Mahajan has spoken that women in politics are facing sexual harassment and she has faced the same," NCP leader Nawab Malik told ANI.
He claimed that she is doing politics from the beginning under BJP and she should name the leader or member who is accused of sexually harassing her.
