New Delhi:  National Commission for Women (NCW) issued notice to Congress President Rahul Gandhi the over his statement allegedly insulting Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and claiming that PM Narendra Modi “ran away and asked a mahila (woman) to defend him.” 

Congress Chief’s statement referred to the fact that instead of PM Modi, the Defence Minister had countered the Opposition’s charge during the Rafale debate in the Parliament last week.

Earlier, while adressing to a rally in Jaipur on Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi said alleged that the PM, who  claims to have a broad chest, had run away and was “hiding behind a woman. He said ,The watchman with a 56-inch chest ran away and told a woman, Sitharaman ji, defend me. I won't be able to defend myself, defend me. For two and a half hours, the woman could not defend him. I had asked a straight question answer ‘yes or no’, but she couldn't answer.

Congress President also tweeted another misogynistic comment and challenged PM to “be a man and answer my question. The tweet reads,” “With all due respect Modi Ji, in our culture respect for women begins at home. Stop shaking. Be a man and answer my question: Did the Air Force and Defence Ministry object when you bypassed the original Rafale deal? Yes? Or No? #RafaleScam.”

The NCW notice against Gandhi mentions these statements made at the Jaipur rally and in the tweet. The commission asked Congress Chief to provide a satisfactory explanation on the matter.