‘Pappu Yadav should first ask his wife before commenting on others’: JDU MLA Anant Singh on Bihar leader’s ‘women face exploitation in politics’ remark

The controversy over Independent MP Pappu Yadav’s remarks claiming that women who enter politics face sexual exploitation has refused to die down, with JDU MLA Anant Kumar Singh launching a personal attack on the Bihar leader, asking him to “first ask his own wife” before commenting on women politicians.

Speaking to reporters in Patna, Anant Singh said, “Pappu Yadav has gone mad. Where is his own wife?… His own wife is also a leader, he should ask her as well before speaking about someone else.”

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What Pappu Yadav said on women in politics?

Addressing reporters in Purnia this week, Yadav flagged the alleged deep-rooted discrimination against women in public life, questioning the gap between symbolic reverence and real power.

He further blamed the system and society for the perceived situation of women and went on to claim that 90 per cent of them have to enter the room of (male) politicians.

“In India, women are called goddesses, but they will never be respected here. System and society are responsible for this…90% of women cannot do politics without entering the room of politicians,” he said.

His remarks triggered an uproar, with several NDA leaders, including the ruling BJP, slamming him for making what they called derogatory remarks against women.

However, Yadav defended his remarks and doubled down on his claim, insisting that women face systemic exploitation within politics. He also cited sexual exploitation cases against male politicians.

“I had said that male politicians do not let women enter politics without exploiting them. Is that incorrect?…I am fighting women’s fight…They exploit women…There is sexual exploitation against 755 male politicians and there are chargesheets against 155.”

Yadav added, “The whole of India is tainted. If I speak of male politicians, why are they (Women’s Commission) troubled?…These politicians exploit women and then they speak of the Women’s Reservation Bill.”