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Congress campaigner Priyanka Gandhi on Wednesday took on BJP’s Narendra Modi by raking up the “snoopgate” controversy surrounding him and said leaders who indulge in wrong acts against women should be “thrown out”.
Campaigning for Congress President Sonia Gandhi in the Rae Bareli constituency of Uttar Pradesh, she also exhorted the electorate to reject divisive politics and those who believe in concentrating powers with themselves.
Taking on Modi without mentioning his name, she said, "If you want to empower women, how will you do that? You empower us by listening to phone conversations in closed rooms?"
She was clearly referring to the alleged snooping of a woman in Gujarat ostensibly on orders from Modi.
"If there are leaders who are disrespecting women, throw them out of your homes," the Congress' star campaigner told gathering here.
Asserting that empowerment is a right of women, she said nobody should think that it was some kind of favour towards the fair sex which comprises half the population.
"If we talk about women empowerment, we need to recognise the strength of a woman, we need to talk genuinely about women empowerment, without being condescending towards women," she said.
She emphasised that women, besides being mother, daughter, wife and sister, had an independent identity which needs to be respected.
Accusing BJP of double standard on the issue of women empowerment, Priyanka said if they are concerned about it, then they should empower them by giving reservation.
"But what have you been doing for us? This is a big issue before the voters in this election. What kind of politics are they doing? Is this a constructive one in strengthening the nation," she asked.
