Actress Angoorlata Deka, the newly elected BJP MLA from Assam’s Batadroba constituency is the topic of discussion on the internet these days. You’d think it might be because of her resounding victory in the elections, but all the Internet is busy talking about and trolling is her looks.
Voyeurs on social media and even some media outlets have only one aspect of her personality to discuss – that she is “hot and sexy”! The rest of her achievements have very conveniently been ignored, or may be no one actually cares, because she is a woman.
Just take a look at these cringeworthy news pieces/articles that have been doing the rounds since her victory was confirmed on May 19:
And this one calling her the ‘hottest MLA’!
With personal pictures of her going viral, some made sure that the objectification was complete.
Or this video, which is plain offensive, with this news portal calling her ‘khoobsurat’ while displaying pictures from her modelling and acting days
Seems that this news portal was so enamoured by the MLA’s beauty that they forgot to even check the facts and showed another actress. Thankfully, they got a befitting reply from two of their viewers
But it gets even more vile. Some trolls who seem to be from the opposing party have even gone so far as to claim that was Deka’s “hotness” that resulted in her electoral victory.
And there’s more.
Check out Bollywood film maker Ram Gopal Verma’s totally creepy tweet explaining why he loves politics now
If MLA can look like this,Achche din aagaye hai..Thank you Angoorlataji,Thank you Modiji..1st time I love politics pic.twitter.com/WPzJgmnb13
— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) May 24, 2016
Even after a fair bit of criticism, Verma shot off another sexist comment that most MLA’s don’t look good. Well, given its not a beauty pageant that’s not surprising!
With regards to my comment on Angoorlataji,I was just paying a compliment to her .since most MLA’s don’t look good it was such a change
— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) May 25, 2016
And this soul thought he had made a very witty remark
New BJP MLA Ms Angoorlata Deka.
You can bet that Asom Vidhan Sabha will see high attendance😊 pic.twitter.com/T5egDUmhwq— Kiran Kumar S (@KiranKS) May 22, 2016
There is nothing wrong with noting her physical beauty, but it becomes just objectification when that’s the only aspect that you choose to highlight. Dubbing her the “hottest woman MLA” in India, without mentioning even a detail about her political history is just plain sexist and horribly wrong.
After online trolls this is what Angoorlata Deka had to say about the comments regarding her looks:
People may have gone to Mars but their mindsets haven’t changed…I wanted to use my celebrity status to serve the people and contribute to the development of the society. Such comments are uncalled for. People need to grow intellectually. Henceforth, I will not react to such comments