Rahul Gandhi reprimands Kamal Nath over 'item' reference to woman BJP leader

Responding to criticism over former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath's reference to a woman BJP candidate as "item", Rahul Gandhi said that he did not like the type of language used. "Kamal Nath is from my party but, personally, I don't like the type of language used. I don't appreciate it, regardless of who. And it is unfortunate," he said, reported ANI.

At a bypoll campaign meeting in Dabra (SC) assembly constituency in Gwalior district on Sunday, Kamal Nath had compared the qualities of Congress candidate Suresh Raje and rival candidate Imarti Devi from the BJP. He had said, "Suresh Raje is a simple man. He is not like that [rival] person. What is the name of that person?" As the crowd shouted Imarti Devi's name, Kamal Nath called her an "item", saying, "Why should I name her? You know her better than I do. You should have warned me. Ye kya item hai..."

An "item" refers to an object or inventory, but in the Indian context, it is also used as a slang to refer to a sensual woman. 

BJP leaders in Madhya Pradesh, led by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, on Monday held a protest against Kamal Nath, while the National Commission for Women sought an explanation from the Congress leader. Chouhan also wrote to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, asking her to condemn Nath's remarks and remove the former chief minister from all party posts.

Nath, who heads the Congress in Madhya Pradesh, also came in for flak from Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Mayawati, who asked dalits to "teach the Congress a lesson" over the remark. Imarti Devi, the state's women and child development minister, who quit the Congress to join BJP, is a dalit leader. "Will Sonia Gandhi tolerate if such a remark is made against her daughter?" Imarti Devi said, attacking Kamal Nath.

Addressing a rally at Mandhata in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh on Monday, Kamal Nath said, "Both Shivraj ji and BJP are finding false issues. I have never disrespected anyone. As they don't have any issues to speak on, that is why sometimes they sit on silent fast and sometimes say Kamal Nath drinks Coca-Cola. This is their condition."