'Despite being a woman' phrase lands Modi in controversy; Twitter up in arms

The PM has received much flak on the social networking site for usage of the phrase

Prime minister Narendra Modi unwittingly landed himself in hot water, when he praised his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina’s courage to fight against terrorism with the now infamous phrase,  “despite being a woman”. 

Modi, who is on a two day visit to the neighbouring nation, was speaking at the Dhaka University, when he praised Bangladeshi prime minister Hasina for declaring zero-tolerance against terrorism. Modi’s usage of the phrase “despite being a woman”, however, seems to be generating much controversy, with the Twitteratti making it a top trending hashtag for the day.

Several twitter users have criticised the PM’s usage of the phrase as mysogynist, and disrespectful towards women. Most hit back with examples of strong, influential women leaders and acheivers, while a few went on to rake up Modi’s connection with Rashtriya Samaj Sewak Sangh (RSS) and his estranged wife Jashodaben Modi. 

Here is a slice from the twitter scene:

 

#DespiteBeingAWoman she did not fight for her rights as his legally wedded wife nor for the respect accorded to a PM's wife in 7 RCR.

— Rana Ayyub (@RanaAyyub) June 8, 2015

In no other country,would a man who had openly lied on his marital status for years, deliberately,would have become PM. #DespiteBeingAWoman

— Sanjay Jha (@JhaSanjay) June 8, 2015

#despitebeingawoman is just daily life in this subcontinent.

— Rosie Roti (@supriyan) June 8, 2015

#DespiteBeingAWoman But I don't expect a Sakha trained person to know about them! pic.twitter.com/SPjbdD5oQU

— Dwaipayan Mitra (@DwaipayanM) June 8, 2015

Btw nobody used #DespiteBeingAWoman for Malala Yousufzai. She did it despite being a woman no & faced it becoz she was a woman.

— Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) June 8, 2015

And, women voted for Mr Modi along with men & gave him an absolute majority #despitebeingawoman

— swati chaturvedi (@bainjal) June 8, 2015

So is the #PM trying to say we women are generally tolerant of terrorism? #fail #despitebeingawoman

— Arpita Das (@yodakinthestore) June 8, 2015

#DespiteBeingAWoman Sushma Swaraj came to receive @narendramodi at airport

— Maila Kameez (@Maila_Kameez) June 7, 2015

Baba Ramdev was arrested #DespiteBeingAWoman ..Urggh or at least pretending to be one? The women power! :-) pic.twitter.com/Zmmv6xIEeQ

— Gaurav Pandhi (@GauravPandhi) June 8, 2015

#DespiteBeingAWoman #SmritiIrani is doing quite well to implement #RSS communal agenda.

— Credit Chor (@lnsaneworld) June 8, 2015

#DespiteBeingAWoman she can raise kids, wash dishes, run marathons, her bank accounts, fathom spreadsheets & change bedsheets.

— ??? (@NoSylviaPlath) June 8, 2015

How can you even say or think #despitebeingawoman when your own country had a great female PM way before most first world countries! Shame!

— Amena (@Fashionopolis) June 8, 2015

When modi was told about the never ending list of high achieving women in the world. "#DespiteBeingAWoman" pic.twitter.com/Yad68YauDp

— Brumby(No MSG Found) (@brownbrumby) June 8, 2015

Hahaha-No #DespiteBeingAWoman for us-secretly we are all men-just carefully shave our moustaches off every morning:) https://t.co/RrD238QA16

— Twinkle Khanna (@mrsfunnybones) June 8, 2015