Indian prime minister Narendra Modi with Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina in 2015
The Stream

Modi supporters counter ‘sexism’ accusation after #DespiteBeingAWomen trends

Indian prime minister’s supporters launch #ModiEmpowersWomen.

Supporters of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are defending him with #ModiEmpowersWomen, after many deemed his comments about Bangladesh’s prime minister sexist.

“I am happy that Bangladesh Prime Minister, despite being a woman, has declared zero tolerance for terrorism”, Modi said of Sheikh Hasina in a speech at Dhaka University on Sunday. His remark triggered a wave of outrage under #DespiteBeingAWoman. However, pro-Modi users fought back with a counter hashtag. Both hashtags trended in India. 

Some defended Modi’s comments: