New Delhi [India], July 28 : Samajwadi Party MP Iqra Hasan criticised All India Imam Association (AIIA) Maulana Sajid Rashidi for his alleged misogynistic remarks against party MP Dimple Yadav, and calling for a "social boycott" of the religious leader.
"Strict action should be taken against such people. They should be boycotted socially. They are not any religious leaders or 'Thekedar' of the religion. They have no right to make such comments for any woman," the Samajwadi Party MP told ANI.
"It is a very shameful statement. If such statements are made against a woman who is a public representative and member of the biggest panchayat (Parliament), then what message are we giving to the common women of the society? It is an indecent and unfortunate remark," she said.
Maulana Rashidi has been heavily criticised for his alleged remarks targeting the Samajwadi MP for not covering her head while visiting a mosque in Delhi with her husband and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) MPs also protested against AIIA president's remarks made during a television debate.
Menawhile, Dimple Yadav criticised the NDA protest, calling for the ruling alliance MPs to protest for the Manipur issue instead.
"It would have been better if they had protested against the Manipur incident, the videos of which were viral on social media. It would have been better had they stood with the women of Manipur. The way the leaders of the BJP gave statements on our army officers during Operation Sindoor, it would have been better if they (NDA) stood with them," she told reporters.
Earlier today, AIIA president defended his remarks, adding, "As per the Islamic faith, I object to the way she (Dimple Yadav) was sitting inside the Mosque. As per the Islamic faith, it is not appropriate to sit like that inside a Mosque. She should have learnt from Iqra Hasan how to sit... The Maulana who was present there (SP MP Mohibbullah Nadvi) is no longer a Maulana; he is an MP now. He was not authorised to sit there. He is a Samajwadi Party MP. He is sitting there with joined hands like a slave."