Gender-based Smear Campaigns: A Persistent Challenge Faced by Women Leaders in India

New Delhi- Regardless of the political affiliation, female candidates face the daunting challenge of enduring abusive language and character assassination, propagated both on social media platforms and within the societal fabric.

The advent of the Jio Internet revolution in India has significantly expanded social media accessibility, resulting in a dual effect: while some champion it in the name of freedom of speech, others exploit these platforms for propaganda and to target women with abuse and rumors.

From the grassroots-level Panchayat elections to the grand stage of Lok Sabha elections, the celebration of democracy is persistently tainted by a barrage of indecent remarks targeting women leaders. Despite being touted as the largest democracy in the world, the sanctity of the electoral process often crumbles under the weight of misogyny and gender-based discrimination.

This trend persists in the ongoing 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where prominent figures such as BJP's Hema Malini and Kangana Ranaut, along with Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, have become targets.

Recently, Congress leader Randeep Surjewala drew backlash for making objectionable remarks about Hema Malini, sparking immediate action from the National Commission for Women, which swiftly approached the Election Commission. BJP condemned the Congress, asserting that such 'low level, sexist' comments marked a new low for the party.

Simultaneously, Surjewala clarified that in the same video, he had also expressed reverence for Hema Malini, acknowledging her status as "married to Dharmendra ji and our daughter-in-law." This incident is reminiscent of the objectionable remarks made against Hema Malini several years ago by RJD chief Lalu Yadav.

Preceding Surjewala, fellow party members Supriya Shrinet and HS Ahir faced criticism for posts on their social media accounts linking Kangana Ranaut to her constituency Mandi. However, Shrinate promptly removed the objectionable content, asserting that the post in question was not made by her.

Moreover, BJP's Dilip Ghosh issued an apology for his comments regarding Mamata Banerjee's lineage. It is disheartening to note that veteran personalities such as Sonia Gandhi, Mayawati, Mamata Banerjee, Smriti Irani, Jayaprada, and Priyanka Gandhi have all been subjected to objectionable gender-based remarks at various points in time. In 2019, Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan made indecent comments about BJP leader Jayaprada. Discussing the prevalent misogyny in Indian politics, women's rights activist Ranjana Kumari remarked, "It is a common mentality to degrade a woman by commenting on her body."

Similar incidents occurred during the 2019 general elections, including when then Union Minister Ashwini Choubey advised former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi to stay behind the "veil." Additionally, another BJP leader, Vinay Katiyar, made objectionable remarks about Congress leader Sonia Gandhi.