BJP’s Davanagere candidate can only cook, not speak publicly: Shamanur Shivashankarappa

DAVANAGERE: Senior Congress leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa has made a controversial remark against BJP Lok Sabha candidate Gayathri Siddeshwara, wife of incumbent MP G M Siddeshwara, saying that she can only cook and not speak.

Addressing a Congress leaders’ meeting here on Thursday evening, Shivashankarappa said, “The opposition candidate says she will win and present a lotus to Modi. She should first understand the problems of the district. She can’t speak publicly and is only good for cooking”.

Gayathri Siddeshwara and Prabha Mallikarjun.

Shivashankarappa made the comments while ignoring that Prabha Mallikarjun, his own daughter-in-law and wife of his son S S Mallikarjun, a state cabinet minister, has been picked by his party to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha election. The Congress event was held at the Bunts Bhavan here on Thursday evening.

Reacting to Shivashankarappa’s comments, Gayathri Siddeshwar told reporters on Friday, “Women are in the forefront in every field, but he may not be aware of it. A woman can cook and also fly. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has laid stress on women’s empowerment. But such people disrespect women”.