Haryana CM draws flak for remarks on Kashmiri women

Chandigarh : Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has courted a controversy with his remarks that "some people are now saying that as Kashmir is open, brides will be brought from there".

Khattar was expressing concern over low sex ratio in Haryana at an event in Fatehabad on Friday when he made the remarks in an apparent reference to the scrapping of the special status for Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution.

"Now some people say, Kashmir is open, they (brides) will be brought from there. But jokes apart, if (sex) ratio is improved, then there will be a right balance in society," he said.

His remarks drew flak from various quarters, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi terming them "despicable".

"Haryana CM, Khattar's comment on Kashmiri women is despicable and shows what years of RSS training does to the mind of a weak, insecure and pathetic man. Women are not assets to be owned by men," Gandhi said in a tweet.

Reacting to the criticism, the chief minister accused the media of "running a misleading and factless campaign" against him and shared on Twitter a full video of the event.

"Daughters are our pride. Daughters of entire country are our daughters," Khattar tweeted while clarifying his position. He also attacked Rahul Gandhi and advised him not to react to "distorted news".

"Dear @RahulGandhi ji, at least at your level you shouldn't react on distorted news. I'm attaching a video of what I actually said, and in what context - this will give you clarity of mind," he tweeted.

The BJP came out in the support of Khattar, saying the chief minister was referring to the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign of the party and trying to highlight the problems caused by skewed sex ratio.

"The statement of the CM is being twisted under an agenda," the Haryana BJP said while sharing the video of CM.