I was sexually harassed too: Poonam Mahajan

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Mumbai Pooja Mahajan on Sunday made a startling revelation when she said that every Indian woman, including herself, has faced sexual harassment at some stage of their lives adding that swift action rather than selfpity should be the response to such experiences.

While addressing the students at Red Brick Summit in IIMAhmedabad on Sunday, Poonam said, “I was sexually harassed too, almost every Indian woman has faced sexual harassment at some stage.”

The MP from North Mumbai and Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha added that “Men can afford mediocrity in politics but women cannot,” while speaking on the topic ‘Breaking Glass Ceiling’.

The daughter of late BJP veteran Pramod Mahajan said, “I used to take a train to my classes in Versova from Worli. I could not afford to travel by car at the time. But I did not feel self-pity that someone was looking at me in a disagreeable way. Every woman on this planet, especially in India, has faced that.

“Every Indian woman has had remarks passed about her or has been touched inappropriately.” Mahajan said.

She added, “We connect goddesses to every aspect of life. In some respects, we are ahead of America. They do not have a woman president. But in India, women have assumed the role of President, Prime Minister, defence minister, and chief ministers. These leaders have broken the glass ceiling. It is up to us to continue that tradition. It is up to us not to harbour self-pity. If someone harasses you, slap him and don’t think why he did that.”

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Monday demanded that Mahajan disclose the name of the person who had sexually harassed her.

“Daughter of Pramod Mahajan has spoken that women in politics are facing sexual harassment and she has faced the same,” NCP leader Nawab Malik told ANI.

He claimed that she is doing politics from the beginning under BJP and she should name the leader or member who is accused of sexually harassing her.