People are supposed to learn from their mistakes. And if they’re a little smarter, they’d learn from the mistakes of others. Going by this logic, Guna BJP MLA Pannalal Shakya seems to have missed both those buses.
If the name sounds familiar, let me refresh your memory. This is the same guy who called Virat Kohli unpatriotic for choosing to marry in Tuscany instead of the land in which Lord Ram, and several other mythological characters, chose to enter matrimony.
Yep. THAT guy. And if you thought his previous foot-in-mouth moment was entertaining enough then you’ll like this. Because, oops! Vidhayak ji did it again!
BJP’s MLA from Guna, Pannalal Shakya has discovered the root cause of crimes and atrocities against women—it’s the boyfriends!
This path-breaking revelation was made by Shakya on Saturday, when he was speaking at a function for the distribution of smartphones at Girl’s Degree College in Guna.
The all-knowing MLA said,
“Why do girls have boyfriends? Girls should refrain from having boyfriends and atrocities against them will end.”
But wait, that’ not all. The BJP MLA’s gyaan-giving session had a few more pearls of wisdom still left to be shared.
BJP MLA Pannalal Shakya went to say that observing International Women's Day is a foreign tradition. "In the Indian philosophy, women are held in high regard and we celebrate Women's Day four times annually. We worship them four times," he said #NewIndiahttps://t.co/qW1t8bSMJG
— Subharanjan Gupta 😷 (@Subharanjan_) March 25, 2018
Rrrrright okay!
His words have irked the good folk of Twitter yet again, forcing them to ponder what possess people like him to make statements like these.
Alas, we may be closer to finding the cure for cancer than a cure for misogyny.
1. Is there a time machine we can use to send such people back to the ancient times?
Another reason why India is still developing after years of independence – politicians still living in the 70's https://t.co/p12LF1Vtvj
— Rachel (@sweariwontswear) March 25, 2018
2. Maybe it’s an affliction. You know, making such statements….
BJP MLA from MP's Guna, Pannalal Shakya says rapes are rising in the state because ‘girls kept boyfriends’. He had earlier called Virat Kohli unpatriotic for getting married in Italy.
— Tohid Qureshi (@tohidivity) March 25, 2018
3. When will they accept it? You, dear men, are a major chunk of that problem!
why do men blame women for everything bad that happens TO women? if they stop doing this, their blinkers will come off. https://t.co/3zrc3i1mGL
— harnidh (@chiaseedpuddin) March 25, 2018
4. Spewing drivel!
Did the 8 months old baby girl who was raped just this month have a boyfriend?! How dare these so-called people in power spew such drivel?!
IT IS NEVER THE WOMEN'S FAULT.#MeToo #StopBlamingWomen https://t.co/4tNe7o6YL6
— Arshi | ride & die for Hayley Williams 🏳️🌈 (@dobbyissafreelf) March 25, 2018
5. Oooh good suggestion! We’ll make sure this reaches him in time for his next speech!
https://twitter.com/ashish_smc/status/977952859827322880
6. Amen!
Don't know about boyfriends, but if this man stops making speeches, a lot of the atrocities will stop. 🙄🙄
— Pratichi (@pratichi) March 25, 2018
7. When you look at it this way….
Dont blame #PannalalShakya
It is our stupidity that we selected a legislature like him.
Had we been more careful in whom we select, we would not have faced this issue in first place.
जब बोया पेड़ बबूल का तो आम कहाँ से होएय— टिप्पणी कुमार (@LazyIndianYouth) March 25, 2018
According to Hindustan Times, when the honourable MLA was given a second chance to reconsider his statements, Shakya stood by them.
“I am against western culture and my speech was based on that only.”
*sigh* Well, at least, we tried. Unfortunately, you can’t teach someone who doesn’t want to learn.
TBH, when a country’s political structure is run by men over 50, who are so rigid in their beliefs and ideologies, there’s barely any hope. What we, as a country, need to grasp is that merely implementing reforms for women is not enough. We have to change our mindsets too.
PS: On a lighter note, I always knew boyfriends were so much drama!