#DespiteBeingAWoman trends on Twitter, Narendra Modi draws flak for remark

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the top trend on Twitter all day on Monday, for all the wrong reasons.

PM Modi drew flak on social media for a ‘sexist’ remark during his high-profile visit to Bangladesh.

The hashtag #DespiteBeingAWoman was on top of the India trends on Twitter, for his comment in Dhaka while addressing the Indian community on Sunday.

Modi had said, “It is heartening that Prime Minister of Bangladesh despite the fact that she is a woman is openly saying that she has zero tolerance for terrorism.”

“I would like to congratulate Sheikh Hasina for her firmness to deal with the menace,” he added.

The comment was meant to praise Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, however, sparked a flurry of sarcastic comments, jokes and pictures of successful Indian women on social media.

Political rivals capitalised on the opportunity and spew venom at Narendra Modi.

Modi was in Dhaka for two days, during which he signed the critical Land Boundary Agreement with Bangladesh.  

But since storming to power in May last year, Modi has sought to position himself as a champion of women's rights, emphasising the importance of toilets for poor and vulnerable women, education for girls and the ending of female foeticide in India.

In his first Independence Day speech last August, he addressed the issue of rising sexual assaults on women and called on parents to raise their sons better.

Here is a compilation of some of the tweets with the hashtag #DespiteBeingAWoman: