'Worse than a prostitute'; Politician charged for insulting female leader

spaminator

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 26, 2009
35,668
3,004
113
'Worse than a prostitute'; Politician charged for insulting female leader
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
First posted: Friday, July 29, 2016 12:32 PM EDT | Updated: Friday, July 29, 2016 12:39 PM EDT
PATNA, India -- Indian police on Friday arrested a Hindu nationalist leader on charges alleging he insulted a senior female politician by describing her as "worse than a prostitute."
Police officer Upendra Kumar Sharma said Dayashankar Singh was arrested in his hometown in Bihar state where he was found hiding in a relative's home.
Singh was expelled last week from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party for making the remark against Mayawati, a leader representing millions of lower-caste Dalits. He has been hiding since then.
Singh held a senior BJP position in northern Uttar Pradesh state.
Singh accused Mayawati, leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party, of selling party nominations for state elections for millions of rupees and said "her character is worse than that of a prostitute."
Singh later apologized for his remark, but Mayawati demanded his arrest as she rejected his accusation.
Mayawati, a former top elected leader of Uttar Pradesh state, is leading her party campaign in the state for a key legislature election due early next year.
Police registered a case of criminal intimidation, insulting the modesty of a woman and promoting disharmony and hatred against Singh. If convicted, he could be jailed for up to five years.
In this Sept. 22, 2015 file photo, India's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati smiles as she addresses journalists at a press conference in New Delhi, India. (AP Photo/Saurabh Das, File)

'Worse than a prostitute'; Politician charged for insulting female leader | Worl