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Published 12:13 IST, January 10th 2019

"Rahul Gandhi's ego could not take a challenge from a woman": Smriti Irani slams Congress president over sexist remarks against Raksha Mantri Nirmala Sitharaman

Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani has lashed out at Congress president Rahul Gandhi in the light of the recent sexist remarks made by him against Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Reported by: Monica Aggarwal
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Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani has lashed out at Congress president Rahul Gandhi in the light of his recent sexist remarks against Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Replying to news agency ANI's Editor-in-chief Smita Prakash's tweet in which she has quoted what Rahul Gandhi said against the Raksha Mantri while addressing a rally in Rajasthan on January 9, Smriti Irani has called out 'misogynist Rahul'.

In her tweet, Smita Prakash wrote: "The Prime Minister with the 56-inch-chest didn't come even once to the people's court - the Parliament. We smashed the Raksha Mantri's speech. 56-inch-chest Prime Minister said to a woman, Sitharaman ji 'protect me', I will not be able to protect myself". - as said by Rahul Gandhi in the rally. 

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Here's is ANI's Smita Prakash's tweet:

Replying to Smita Prakash's tweet, Smriti Irani slammed Rahul Gandhi saying that "Rahul ji lost his patience after he got a hit at his ego - that how can a normal woman dare to challenge Rahul?" 

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Read the Union Minister's tweet here:

READ: SHAMEFUL: Congress Tells NCW Chief Rekha Sharma 'what Her Job Is' For Taking Cognisance Of Rahul Gandhi's Sexist Remarks Against Raksha Mantri Nirmala Sitharaman

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Earlier, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also condemned Congress president Rahul Gandhi, calling his misogynist remarks against Raksha Mantri Nirmala Sitharaman "a new low in the history of Indian politics."

Taking to Twitter, Swaraj took down Rahul Gandhi for replying to Nirmala Sitharaman's response to his Rafale 'scam' allegations - a matter relating to the Ministry of Defence - first with personal attacks, and then a sexist remark.

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READ: THUNDEROUS: PM Modi Absolutely Tears Into Rahul Gandhi For Shameful Misogyny Against Raksha Mantri Nirmala Sitharaman

On January, Prime Minister Modi delivered a speech where he let rip at the Congress president for his remarks, hailing Nirmala Sitharaman for her achievement in becoming the first woman Defence Minister in India's history, also adding that Rahul Gandhi's remarks entailed an insult to women across the country.

"Two-three days ago you'd have seen in Parliament - We're proud that our daughter of our nation who has for the first time become the country's Raksha Mantri and for the first time a woman is handling the protection and security of 125 crore citizens. This is a matter of women's pride and progress. And when our Raksha Mantri, a woman, smashed Opposition parties' leaders out of the park, exposed all their lies -- you would have seen their eyes were torn asunder. And our Raksha Mantri, one-by-one, put the truth on the floor of the house. They were so shocked, they have been reduced to insulting a woman - a woman Raksha Mantri. This isn't just an insult to the Raksha Mantri, it's an insult to India's Nari Shakti, and these irresponsible politicians will have to pay the price for this," PM Modi said.

READ: Editors Guild Issues A Statement After Rahul Gandhi's Attack On ANI's Smita Prakash; Calls Out Negative Labelling Of Journalists

This is not the first time Rahul Gandhi has made derogatory remarks against women. Earlier, the Congress chief drew sharp criticism from the National Union of Journalists (India) and the BJP after he termed PM Modi’s television interview as “staged” and ANI's Smita Prakash, who conducted the interview, a “pliable journalist”.

Smita Prakash, the editor of news agency ANI, also took to Twitter to slam Rahul Gandhi:

10:21 IST, January 10th 2019