New Delhi: Rajesh Ranjan aka Pappu Yadav, an Independent MP from Bihar, has triggered a controversy with his sexist remarks about women in politics, prompting the state women’s commission to serve a notice on him.
“Who is doing domestic violence? Who has their eyes on women? From America to India, it is politicians. Without the room of a politician, 90 percent of women cannot get into politics. Every day there is CCTV footage of a new… It has become a policy to exploit women in India,” Yadav told the media.
“In India, women are called goddesses, but they will never be respected here. The system and society are responsible for this. A culture of exploiting women has become ingrained.”
The remarks come in the backdrop of a united Opposition defeating the 131st Constitution Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha. The Modi government had tabled it along with the Delimitation Bill and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 as a three-bill package to “operationalise” women’s reservation.
“Leaders behave like vultures toward women. Go to school, and your daughter faces exploitation; go to college, and exploitation in the name of ragging; go to the office, exploitation is there as well,” the Purnia MP further said.
Later, Bihar women’s commission issued a formal notice asking Yadav to respond in three days regarding his derogatory remarks and why his Lok Sabha membership shouldn’t be cancelled.
The remarks also drew widespread criticism from political parties of all hues. “Shocker statement! When the nation was pushing for Nari Shakti see what Cong supported MP is saying! Controversial statement by MP Pappu Yadav on women surfaces, he said that 90% of women cannot do politics without going into a leader’s room. This is their mindset (sic),”
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla posted on social media platform ‘X’
His party colleague Tuhin Sinha, too, sought to corner the Congress party. “Despicable, outrageous comments by Pappu Yadav, abusing self made women politicians. Will Priyanka Gandhi sack this obnoxious misogynist or does she endorse his views? Disgusting people,” he posted.
Similarly, BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya alleged that the MP was “echoing the culture within the Congress”. “Pappu Yadav, a self-proclaimed loyalist of Rahul Gandhi, is echoing the culture within the Congress. Will there be outrage? Or will this be brushed aside like always? If past patterns are anything to go by, don’t expect accountability, expect applause,” he posted on X.
Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed slammed Yadav, saying that the “third-rate MP should never get support from the party.”
“There are many of us who have worked hard to reach where we are. Pappu Yadav must apologise immediately for these disgraceful and derogatory remarks against women. Disgusting filth from a sitting MP,” she posted on X, tagging the Purnia MP.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
Also Read: I-PAC emails staff saying West Bengal ops ‘paused’, days ahead of polls. TMC says ‘all is well’