After 'prostitute', Dayashankar Singh calls Mayawati a dog. Why are our female netas subjected to such misogyny?

Is Congress taking political mileage or is it really concerned?

The Congress on 5 September launched a blistering attack on the BJP over Singh's comment. The party alleged that Singh's comment was telling of the BJP's mindset towards a Dalit woman.

Demanding severe action against Singh, All India Mahila Congress president Shobha Oza said that this is not the first time that the expelled BJP leader had used such derogatory language to refer to the former CM.

While Oza's comments are commendable, the Congress may do good to remember that the party took no action when senior party leader Rita Bahuguna Joshi had asked how much Mayawati would receive as a compensation for rape. She made the comment after Mayawati announced a compensation of Rs 25,000 for a victim of rape.

Mayawati has been a favourite target of political parties

• One year after the SP government came to power, party leader Om Prakash Singh called Mayawati "an ugly-faced marauder."

• In 2014, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav had said: "Unko kya kahen yeh samajh mein nahi aata. Shrimati kahen, kunwari beti ya behenji kahen (I don't understand how one should address her, as Mrs, Ms or sister).

• In 1995, when Mayawati had accused Mulayam's men of attempting to rape her, the SP chief had said: "Is she so pretty that anyone would want to rape her?"

Other Indian female politicians deal with sexism everyday

• Last year, BJP's Giriraj Singh had sparked a row when he said that Sonia Gandhi's 'white skin' was the reason that she secured the top job in Congress.

• Smriti Irani has been a regular target of derogatory comments. After she was moved from the HRD ministry to the textile ministry, Janta Dal (United) leader Anwar Ali said: "Good that she is a textile minister; it will help in covering her body". Assam Congress leader Nilamoni Sen Deka also drew ire when he said that Irani was the illegitimate wife of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

• Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has also had to battle sexism. Reacting to her 'Maa-Mati-Manush' slogan, CPI(M) leader Subhas Chakraborty had said: "She is an infertile woman; what does she know about Maa?" Even Anil Biswas of the CPI(M) had used the phrase "Jomero Aruchi" for Mamata which means even the devil won't touch her.

Also read:This is why '27 saal UP Behaal' yatra failed to do any good for Congress in Kanpur