SP Chief Counters Media Query On Women Sarpanch, "Why No Women Reporters?" (image-twitter/akhileshyadav)
Samajwadi chief Akhilesh Yadav gave an interesting reply to the reporters who enquired about the representation of women sarpanch by their brother-in-laws. The media person asked why the woman sarpanch’s brother-in-law was filling in for her, and the SP leader countered back, asking, “Why are all of you (reporters) male?”
The incident took place during an event at the Belhara panchayat area in Uttar Pradesh’s Barabanki district to distribute laptops among students who performed well in their exams.
The Belhara panchayat seat is reserved for women. The actual organizer of the event was local sarpanch Shabana Khatun. But representing Shabana, her brother-in-law Ayaz Khan was present for the event. The sarpanch’s name too was missing from the hoarding. While the poster displayed in public, carried the name of Ayaz with “chairman” written next to him.
Shabana Khan was elected in the last polls. However, as per the resident, she never attended any of the panchayat events and instead, her brother-in-law made all the decisions for the panchayat. Official documents too are sent to the sarpanch’s home to be signed, residents said.
During the event, a group of reporters asked Mr. Yadav how a male relative representing a women”s sarpanch can send a message about women”s employment. “Is this anything new? So many pradhanpatis (husbands of pradhans) are here. If this even a topic? Now, if I ask, why are all of you (reporters) male?” Mr Yadav replied to cheers from his supporters.
He then further added that if there was no woman reporter in his channel who could have been sent for the event. “Send someone else then,” Mr Yadav said with a smile, adding, “I am only replying to your question.”
In several reserved seats, husbands and other male relatives of the women sarpanch usually handles the responsibilities. And they are known to be de-facto sarpanch while the elected female representatives do little more than sign the documents.
