Politician Sambhaji Bhide Asks Journalist To Wear Bindi, Women Commission Issues Notice

Once again a politician crossed a line and challenged women's autonomy to choose under the pretext of culture. This time it was the journalist, who chose not to put bindi. A video went viral on social media in which right-wing leader Sambhaji Bhide was seen schooling a journalist to apply ‘bindi’ on her forehead. He asked her to wear a bindi if she wants his byte and refused to speak to her.

Bhide went on to say that a woman is like ‘Bharat Mata’ and should not live like a widow by not applying bindi.

The video was shot on Wednesday, during Sambhaji Bhide’s meeting with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in Mantralaya. It turned controversial after the Maharashtra State Women’s Commission (MSWC) demanded an explanation for his comment on a woman journalist. MSWC served him a notice addressing the issue.

Maharashtra State Women’s Commission president Rupali Chakankar in the notice to Bhide pointed out that you refused to talk to a woman journalist for not wearing a bindi on her forehead. Instead of acknowledging her work, your statement is demeaning to a woman’s pride and her social stature. Women should be known for the quality of work they do.

Chakankar stated that the commission addressed the issue as his statement has led to angry comments from across the society. The notice under Section 12(2) and 12(3) of the State Women’s Commission Act, 1993, seeks an explanation from Bhide on his position of not speaking with a woman journalist because she was not wearing a bindi.

Sambhaji Bhide Journalist Controversy

The journalist also took to Twitter and narrated the entire episode. She tweeted- “It is my right to decide as to whether to apply bindi or not and when to apply it. We live in a democratic country. One tends to respect a person due to his old age. But that person should also be qualified for the same."

This is not the first time Bhide landed in controversies. He has been called out several times for his baseless statements. Earlier, he claimed that couples were blessed with sons after eating mangoes from his farm. He is reportedly said to be having some involvement in Koregaon-Bhima violence. Although police claimed to found no evidence against him.

Bhide also known as ‘Guruji’, came into the national spotlight after prime minister Narendra Modi visited Sangli to meet him in 2014. Bhide has been as a full-time RSS pracharak. Later, formed his party Shri Shivpratishthan Hindustan. Bhide also had dislikes towards Uddhav Thackeray allied with Congress and NCP.

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