BJP MLC Ayanur Manjunath caught himself in a bind on Thursday when he made a remark regarding pregnant women.
Speaking during the discussion on budget in the Council, Manjunath, referred to Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy pre-poll promise of according Rs 6,000 monthly honorarium to pregnant women (BPL card holders) - three months prior to the delivery and three months after the delivery.
“If women had decided on pregnancy, banking on Kumaraswamy’s pre-poll assurance, they would all have come to the streets today. There is no mention of this in the budget,” he said.
His remarks led to a war of words between the Opposition and ruling members. Ruling party members including floor leader Jayamala, V S Ugrappa, Veena Achaiah and Jayamma attacked Manjunath for 'disrespecting' women. They said that women didn’t need to take anybody’s consent to get pregnant.
Ugrappa said that the BJP leaders were guided by Manu. “These remarks exhibit the respect the BJP has for women,” he said.
While the Opposition members objected to his remarks, Manjunath remarked that he had merely said the women had been meted with injustice. The members were later silenced by the Chair.