Thiruvananthapuram: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national executive member Kumar Viswas who is gearing up to take on Rahul Gandhi in Amethi, has found himself in the thick of a raging controversy over his racist and sexist remarks against Malayalee nurses.
Viswas made the objectionable remarks at a poetry meet held a few years ago. The video footage of the event has now gone viral on social networking sites, inviting sharp criticism.
At the meet, Kumar Viswas had said: “Pahale aadmi bimaar padta thaa bechaara purush aur jaata thaa aspathal mein to tasalli rahati thi..pahle nursen jo thee woh keral se aaati thee kaali peeli si…to moonh se hee sister nikalta thaa (Earlier, when men used to fall ill and go to hospital there used to be some relief. Nurses used to be from Kerala and they were black and yellow in complexion. You right away called them sister.)
Meanwhile, writer Sarah Joseph who joined the AAP recently said even though Kumar Viswas had made the remarks during a caricature performance in 2010, it indicated his anti-woman approach.
“Kumar Viswas should clarify on it and the AAP leadership should seek an explanation from him. I don’t think AAP has an anti-woman stand”, she said.
The United Nurses Association (UNA) has decided to send a legal notice to Viswas and hold protests against his remarks. The UNA will launch a campaign against him in Amethi if he fails to apologize.
All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), Mahila Morcha and Mahila Congress have demanded action against Viswas for his remarks against nurses.
