What You Should Know About Jair Bolsonaro, Our Republic Day Chief Guest

India's guest on its 71st Republic Day ceremonies is none other than the controversial President of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro. He has time and again been in the limelight for dubious statements and policy decisions.

With the yearly celebration around the corner, India is prepared to greet Bolsonaro, the third Brazilian President to attend celebrations in India.

Unlike his former counterparts, the invite to Bolsonaro was sent in November itself. This was after an unofficial meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bolsonaro during the BRICS summit. This had enraged many including activists, journalists and social media users.

In 2014 when he was a Congressman, Bolsonaro had told opposition's Maria do Rosario that he wouldn't rape her because she was not deserving of it.

And probably they have good reason to be scared as Bolsonaro scarcely kindles faith. The far-right chief came to rule in January 2019 after his Alliance for Brazil party beat the leftist Workers' Party (PT). This caused a series of demonstrations for and against his success.

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Blatant sexism

Bolsonaro has made no amends to hide his stance toward women. Some of the remarks he has made about women are well, horrifying to say the least. In 2014 when he was a Congressman, Bolsonaro had told opposition's Maria do Rosario that he wouldn't rape her because she was not deserving of it.

The ex-military man was speaking inside the national assembly. He was reacting to Rosario's attack on the human rights crimes that took place during the US-backed military dictatorship in Brazil.

He later recounted the remarks to a newspaper, continuing that he would not molest Rosario because she was “ugly.”

During a speech in 2017, he announced that he has five children. “Four are men, and then in a moment of weakness, the fifth came out a girl.”

Homophobic remarks

Not just sexist, Bolsonaro is also known for his downright hateful views concerning the LGBTQ community. In 2011, Bolsonaro had said he would be “incapable of loving a homosexual son.” Adding to that, he said that would rather see his son die in a car accident than he appeared with some bloke with a moustache.

In 2002, he declared that he won't fight against it nor discriminate, but if he saw two men kissing each other on the street, he would beat them up. The comment came after then Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso came out in support of gay rights and marriage.

Just last year in April, Bolsonaro was suspected in causing fears of violence against the LGBTQ community in Brazil. He had announced that the South American country should become a “gay tourism paradise.”

Hatred towards indigenous communities

Quilombos are indigenous Brazilian settlements run by quilombolas, whose ancestors are rebel slaves from colonial Brazil. In a 2017 interview, this is how Bolsonaro drew the people after visiting them: “I visited a quilombo, and the least heavy afro-descendant weighed seven arrobas (approximately 104 kg). They do nothing! They are not even good for procreation.”

The man who in 1999 notoriously claimed to be “in favour of torture” also called refugees “scum of the earth” showing up in Brazil.

During a speech in 2017, he announced that he has five children. “Four are men, and then in a moment of weakness, the fifth came out a girl.”

Leaders of indigenous people lately maintained that the “government threats and hate speech” had incited violence against Amazon communities. Adding that it necessitated punishment for the killing of indigenous leaders, AFP reported last week.

His recent commitment to open up the Amazon to drilling companies is equivalent to “genocide” of indigenous leaders. Last week, Reuters stated that deforestation in Brazil's Amazon had increased by 85 percent in 2019 related to the previous year. The data, published by Brazil's National Institute for Space Research, is another sign that highlights the relaxation of Brazil's environmental protection plans.

Also Read: Brazilian Couple Plants Over 2 Million Trees To Restore A Dead Forest

Image: abc.net.au

Saumya Rastogi is an intern with SheThePeople.TV