Kamal Nath’s ‘item’ jibe at Imarti Devi triggers outrage
BHOPAL: A video of former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath using the word “item” seemingly for a former woman colleague who switched over to the BJP has created a furore amid campaigning for next month’s assembly by-elections.
“Why should I take the name (of the opposing candidate)? You all know that person better than me .What an item,” Mr Nath said amid cheers from the crowd which kept shouting “Imarti Devi” as the remarks were being made
Kamal Nath today tried to explain his “item” jibe for former party colleague Imarti Devi, as his arch-rival and successor Shivraj Chauhan held a fast in protest and wrote to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi. Shivraj Chouhan, Mr Nath said, “is looking for excuses”. “Kamal Nath doesn’t insult anyone, he’ll only expose you with truth,” the former Chief Minister said.
“I said something, it wasn’t to insult anyone,” Mr Nath said. “I just didn’t remember the (person’s) name… this list (in his hand) says item no.1, item no.2. Is this an insult?” he said. Mr Nath had stepped into controversy yesterday while campaigning for the party candidate in Dabra, where the BJP is being represented by Imarti Devi.
“Why should I take the name (of the opposing candidate)? You all know that person better than me. What an item,” Mr Nath said as the crowd responded, chanting the name of Imarti Devi.
The BJP candidate, who had quit the Congress in March along with the loyalists, hit back, saying it was not her fault that she was a Dalit who came from a poor family.
“I want to appeal to Sonia Gandhi, who is also a mother, to not keep such people in her party. If such words will be used for women then how can any woman move forward?” she told news agency ANI.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan immediately picked up on the issue, saying the comment displayed the “feudal mindset” of the Congress. Today, Mr Chouhan, state home minister Narottam Mishra, Jyotiraditya Scindia and other party leaders sat on a silent fast. In a letter to Sonia Gandhi, Mr Chouhan has also demanded Kamal Nath’s immediate removal from all party posts.
(Bureau Report with Agency Inputs).
