Daughter of former Minister Late shree Pramood Mahajan and current BJP MP Maharashtra, Poonam Mahajan said on Sunday that she was also sexually harassed in the past. And I am not only the one who had faced this kind of harassment, every single woman had a similar experience at some or the other stage.
Speaking at the IIM Ahmedabad, Poonam said, “During my studies I used to travel by train to my classes from Worli to Versova as I could not afford to travel by car at the time. But I did not feel selfpity that someone was looking at me in a disagreeable way. Every woman on this planet, especially in India, has faced that”.
Poonam, who is a Member of Parliament from North Mumbai said that self-pity must not be the response when sexually harassed. “Every Indian woman has had remarks passed about her or has been touched inappropriately.”
Poonam was addressing the students at the Red Bricks Summit while speaking on the theme ‘Breaking the Glass-Ceiling’. She also said, “We connect goddesses in every aspect of the life and in some respects Indians are ahead of America”.
“America does not have a woman president yet. But in India, women have assumed the role of President even the 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 or see you with lustful eyes, slap him and don’t think why you did that.”
