Andhra Pradesh Speaker Kodela Shiva Prasad sparked off a controversy on Saturday after he compared women to cars while addressing a gathering on the second day of the National Women's Parliament, a first-of-its-kind conclave at Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh.
While talking about the increasing number of crimes against women, Prasad sought to draw a comparison between a woman going out and a car being taken to market. “When the car is parked in the garage at home, accidents can be avoided. When it is taken to a bazaar or to the road, accidents are likely to happen. When the car is speeding, chances of accidents are even higher.”
"Similarly, in older times, when women were housewives, they were safe from all kind of atrocities, except discrimination. Today, they are studying, working, and also are doing business. When they are exposed to the society, they are more prone to eve-teasing, harassment, atrocities, rape and kidnap. If they do not leave home, it doesn't happen," he said.
The Speaker, however, soon went into a damage control mode and said women should be educated and allowed to do their job. “Not only kung fu, they should also be taught self-defence and to build bravery,” he said.
Over 10,000 Indian and foreign delegates, including MLAs, MPs, businesswomen and other influential leaders are attending the three day event which focuses on under-representation of women in elected bodies, decision making levels and obstacles being faced by them in different spheres.
Earlier, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama attended the inaugural session of the event on Friday.
Roja detained?
YSR Congress MLA R.K. Roja alleged that she was detained at Gannavaram Airport on her way to participate in the conclave. "When Chandrababu Naidu's daughter-in-law, Venkaiah Naidu's daughter and KCR's daughter are allowed to speak at the event, I was arrested. Is it politics or are they really discussing women’s empowerment?" she asked.
Meanwhile, many women leaders in the state, especially of the BJP have alleged that they were not invited to the event. BJP is an ally of the ruling TDP.
