Thiruvananthapuram: Is there misogyny in the BJP. That is a question that comes up again and again. BJP councillor K Anilkumar thinks that it was because Poojappura councillor B Vijayalekshmi was a woman, that she could be ‘misled’ into supporting the controversial aerobic bin unit at Poojappura junction. Talking to Deccan Chronicle on Wednesday, he had said, “Poojappura councillor has been misguided into believing that the aerobic bin shelter would be used to solely collect plastic. Perhaps it must be because she is a lady councillor.”
When told that she was an environmental scientist who would know aerobic bins were not for collecting plastic, he said, “Now what can we do? People are against it being set up.” This was not the first time that a male BJP leader in the district had appeared apologetic about a lady BJP leader’s supposed gaffe. Some months ago, BJP District President S Suresh, responding to a question on why a councillor was unwilling to speak about corruption allegations, had said that it might be because she was a woman. (He says he no longer remembers the incident.)
When a case was charged against BJP councillor Simi Jeothish in October last year, she had told DC she was asked by the party to keep quiet. However a male BJP councillor who was also allegedly framed had spoken on the same day. When asked whether there was misogyny within the party, BJP councillors M Lakshmi, Manju G.S. and V.G. Girikumar, as well as Vijayalekshmi denied it. S Suresh said that the BJP was a party which had been observing 30 per cent reservation to women in all its committees including the local area committees.
However, he added, “Perhaps only 10 per cent of the women leaders are competent, as many of them may not be social workers and would have been chosen because their spouse is a BJP worker. They too will get better with experience. Still the opinions of women leaders are critical.” When asked about Simi Jeothish keeping quiet while others talked, Suresh said that it was the party’s prerogative to defend its members.
