Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K. Kavitha condemned union minister Smriti Irani's menstruation remarks on Friday. "Appalling to see such ignorance," said Kavitha on Irani's 'menstruation not a handicap' remark.
Taking to X, Kavitha, Telangana MLC, said she was disheartened by Irani's remarks.
"Disheartened by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development Smriti Irani Ji’s dismissal of menstrual struggles in Rajya Sabha. As a woman, it's appalling to see such ignorance, for our struggles, our journeys isn’t a consolation, it deserves a level playing field and that’s a non-negotiable," she wrote.
"As a woman, it's disconcerting to see a lack of empathy for the genuine challenges women face and the fight we have to put up for everything," she added.
Kavitha also noted that denying paid leave ignores the genuine pain countless women endure.
Earlier this week, the union women and child development minister said that menstruation is not a "handicap" and it shouldn't warrant a specific policy for "paid leave".
Irani was responding to a question on the mentrual hygiene policy in the Rajya Sabha. "Menstruation cycle...is a natural part of women's life journey...We should not propose issues where women are denied equal opportunities just because somebody who does not menstruate has a particular viewpoint towards menstruation," said Irani.
While backing Irani's remark, actress Kangana Ranaut had siad "working woman is a myth, there hasn't been a single non-working woman in the history of mankind, from farming to house chores to raising kids women have always been working."
"Unless it's some specific medical condition women don't need paid leaves for periods," she added.
