By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) on Thursday came down heavily on Deputy Chief Minister and UDP working president Bindo M Lanong for continuing to make derogatory remarks against the women of the State.
“Lanong has been known to make such derogatory remarks against women and women activists in the past which have been reported in the media,” MPCC general secretary in charge of Mahila Congress, Sanjay Das, said in a statement on Thursday.
According to Das, women who hold respectable positions in the society have been referred to as ‘venomous vipers’ by Lanong.
“We wish to remind the Deputy Chief Minister about his obligations towards women of the State irrespective of their political affiliation,” Das said while also demanding immediate apology from Lanong for his remark against the Mahila Congress.
All India Mahila Congress (AIMC) general secretary in charge of Meghalaya, Poonam Rani Wangkhem, said such demeaning remarks against women made by Lanong, a senior leader of the State, are very unfortunate.
“This is an indication of the thought process of the UDP on the women folk of not only Meghalaya but in general. The increase in the activities of the Mahila Congress in Meghalaya seems to have irked the UDP to such an extent that senior and responsible political figures are getting down to making undignified and irresponsible remarks against women,” Wangkhem said.
“The UDP leaders should stop minding what Mahila Congress members are doing and concentrate more on their so called intellectual women candidates,” Wangkhem added.
Meghalaya Pradesh Mahila Congress (MPMC) president EM War also denounced Lanong’s remarks.
“It is most unbecoming and unbefitting of an elderly person and a senior legislator to have made such derogatory remarks on women in the political field. His attitude and perception of women have clearly projected that he is a person with a prejudiced mind,” she said, adding that Bindo Lanong has no regard whatsoever for women from any background be it educational, social or political.
“At his age, he probably forgets that there is a lot he needs to unlearn and relearn before he makes remarks and statements that are hurtful and degrading to the womankind as a whole,” she said, adding, “This is also an appeal to all women folks not to allow such divisive and destructive elements to portray women as objects or commodities for their own personal agenda.”