BJP distances itself from ‘anti-women’ slogans at 370 event

Some BJP workers began raising anti-women slogans during 7th anniversary “celebrations” of Article 370’s abrogation

SRINAGAR: BJP distanced itself Thursday from slogans raised by some of its workers during “celebrations” marking the seventh anniversary of Article 370’s abrogation the previous day after backlash over their alleged anti-women content.“The party firmly believes in respecting the dignity of women and remains committed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of women empowerment. BJP has been at the forefront of empowering women and the historic decision to provide 33% reservation for women reflects that commitment,” BJP general secretary (organisation) Ashok Koul said.During Wednesday’s event in south Kashmir’s Anantnag, the BJP workers altered a well-known slogan of J&K’s governing National Conference (NC) associated with Article 370. For decades, the NC slogan has been “…Aze hund izat te Faze hund izat 370 (the honour of Azi and Fazi is Article 370)”. Azi and Fazi are names of women in the Valley.The BJP workers modified the slogan to “…Moklev Fazi hund te Azi hund izat (the honour of Fazi and Azi has ended)”. This ran counter to the NC slogan’s emphasis on dignity and respect in its discourse on Article 370.Images of BJP workers dancing to these slogans evoked sharp social media criticism with people decrying them as derogatory to women, forcing the party to issue the clarification. “Some individuals may have raised slogans based on their personal thinking or emotions, but those slogans do not represent BJP’s official stand or the views of the leaders who led the rally. The party does not endorse any defamatory or derogatory remarks against anyone,” BJP spokesperson Altaf Thakur said.

Rivals were not convinced. “Some insults are not directed at individuals but at an entire society. Azi and Fazi are not merely names. They symbolise the respect, affection and dignity with which Kashmir has always regarded its mothers and sisters. The day they chose to turn those names into a joke, they crossed a line,” NC spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq said.PDP spokesperson Syed Tajamul Islam echoed the sentiment. “Ideological differences are a natural part of public life. But there are certain boundaries that should never be crossed. Fazi and Azi symbolise our mothers. Regardless of political ambition, personal interests, or ideological beliefs, no one should insult, ridicule, or demean what they represent,” Islam said.