#DespiteBeingAWoman: Modi’s praise for Hasina goes sour

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s praise for her Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina went sour when he lauded her over fighting terrorism “despite being a woman”.

Modi, while addressing Dhaka University on his two-day visit to the neighbouring nation, praised Hasina but his ‘despite being a woman’ statement raised many eyebrows.

"I am happy that Bangladesh Prime Minister, despite being a woman, has declared zero tolerance for terrorism,” Modi had said.

What Modi must have meant was that despite hardships faced by a woman, Hasina tackled terrorism but Twitter users took it as an insult.

#Despitebeingawoman was trending on Twitter with tweeps posting pictures of Indian politicians, athletes, educationists, etc who have achieved various feats.

Some people even raked up old wounds when Modi in 2012 had called Shashi Tharoor’s deceased wife Sunanda Pushkar “50 crore ki girlfriend”.

Twitterati did not even spare her wife Jashodaben.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to #Despitebeingawoman

#DespiteBeingAWoman she did not fight for her rights as his legally wedded wife nor for the respect accorded to a PM's wife in 7 RCR.

— Rana Ayyub (@RanaAyyub) June 8, 2015

Woke up, showered, had breakfast, crossed the road, made it to work on time. All by myself, #DespiteBeingAWoman.

— Agratha Dinakaran (@Agratha) June 8, 2015

How can you even say or think #despitebeingawoman when your own country had a great female PM way before most first world countries! Shame!

— Amena (@Fashionopolis) June 8, 2015

"#DespiteBeingAWoman" pic.twitter.com/JtGVFL58jD

— Brumby(No MSG Found) (@brownbrumby) June 8, 2015

Despite being a woman, Jashodaben is going from authority to authority not getting an answer to her queries. #DespiteBeingAWoman

— कनिका गहलौत (@kanikagahlaut) June 8, 2015

(Image: PIB)