Times when Mulayam’s controversial quotes created political furore & received backlash

New Delhi: Samajwadi Party (SP) founder & former UP CM Mulayam Singh Yadav passed away in a Gurugram hospital after prolonged illness.

The SP supremo was adored & loved by the karyakartas and also had huge fan following cutting across political lines. Besides his oratory skills, he had this ability to build solid one-to-one contact with everyone working with him. This made him a man of the masses, however, many controversies also marked his career as he invited political backlash & public ire over rape remarks & sexist comments on women.

Mulayam’s controversial remarks that got him into trouble:

‘Ladkon se galti ho jaati hai’

In 2014, Mulayam was making a strong push against capital punishment for rapists. At a public rally in April 2014, Mulayam said “ladke, ladke hain. galti ho jati hai (boys will be boys. they commit mistakes).”

This comment sparked political furore and Netaji also received public anger over it.

“Ladkiyan pehle dosti karti hain. Ladke-ladki mein matbhed ho jata hai. Matbhed hone key baad usey rape ka naam dey deti hain. Ladko sey galti ho jati hai. Kya rape case mein phasi di jayegi? (First girls get friendly with the boys. When they have a fight, girls level rape charges on boys. Boys commit mistakes. Will they be executed for rape)?”, Mulayam had said.

‘Rape by 4 persons practically not possible’

In 2015, Mulayam’s another controversial comment sparked a row. Addressing a program in Lucknow in August 2015, he said, “1 rape karta hai aur chaar ka naam aa jaata hai. Kabhi aisa ho sakta hai kya? Aisa practical hi nahin hai (1 commits rape & 4 are named. Can this happen? It’s practically not possible at all)”
The SP supremo made the speech while speaking at a programme to distribute free e-rickshaws under state govt scheme.

Mulayam’s comment on Women Reservation Bill

In March 2010, Mulayam vociferously opposed the Women Reservation Bill, when it was table in Rajya Sabha for approval.

Registering strong protest, the SP leader had said that if the bill is passed in present format, it will fill the Parliament with the kind of women who invite
catcalls and whistles.

His remark resulted in strong counters from women commissions while women commissions took umbrage at sexist remarks. They called out the SP leader for insulting & offensive remarks.