Activist Saket Gokhale has moved the Bombay High Court seeking the removal of National Commission for Women chairperson, Rekha Sharma, for her ‘communal invocation of “love jihad” & for her misogynist politically-biased tweets.’ This came days after Gokhale urged Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Smriti Irani, to sack Sharma failing which he will approach the court.
Gokhale tweeted, “I’ve filed a writ petition with the Hon’ble Bombay HC praying for directions to @MinistryWCD to sack Rekha Sharma as Chairperson, NCW for her communal invocation of “love jihad” & for her misogynist politically-biased tweets. In these circumstances, she’s unfit to head the NCW.”
I’ve filed a writ petition with the Hon’ble Bombay HC praying for directions to @MinistryWCD to sack Rekha Sharma as Chairperson, NCW for her communal invocation of “love jihad” & for her misogynist politically-biased tweets.
In these circumstances, she’s unfit to head the NCW.
— Saket Gokhale (@SaketGokhale) October 28, 2020
Gokhale has accused Sharma of violating Articles 14, 21, and 25 of the Constitution of India and under the provisions of Sec 4. (3)(d) of the National Commission of Women Act, 1990.
Soon after the controversy broke last week, Gokhale had tagged Irani on Twitter to act against Sharma immediately. He had tweeted, “Every since Rekha Sharma was exposed as a sanghi misogynist troll last night, @NCWIndia has disabled comments on its tweets. Meanwhile, another reminder to @smritiirani to sack Rekha Sharma. Don’t force us to go to court. Do your job for once & prioritize women over your party.”
Every since Rekha Sharma was exposed as a sanghi misogynist troll last night, @NCWIndia has disabled comments on its tweets.
Meanwhile, another reminder to @smritiirani to sack Rekha Sharma.
Don’t force us to go to court. Do your job for once & prioritize women over your party.
— Saket Gokhale (@SaketGokhale) October 21, 2020
India’s National Commission for Women chief Rekha Sharma faced widespread condemnation for meeting Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to discuss women’s safety and ‘love jihad,’ a term used by Hindutva bigots to refer to inter-faith marriages where brides are Hindu and grooms Muslim. The controversial NCW chief was forced to lock her Twitter account after activists dug out old misogynistic and seemingly obnoxious tweets posted by her.
