India's Modi praises Bangladeshi PM's courage 'despite being a woman'
Modi's critics coin #DespiteBeingAWoman hashtag, accuse him of sexism
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inadvertently coined a Twitter hashtag Sunday when he praised the courage of Bangladesh's prime minister to take on terrorism "despite being a woman."
The hashtag #DespiteBeingAWoman was one of Twitter's top trending topics Monday as Indians reacted to Modi's speech at Dhaka University during a two-day visit to the neighbouring country.
In the speech, Modi praised Sheikh Hasina for her commitment to tackling terrorism in both countries.
"I am happy that the prime minister of Bangladesh, despite being a woman, is openly saying that she has zero tolerance for terrorism. I would like to congratulate Sheikh Hasina for her courage to deal with terrorism with zero tolerance," he added.
Modi's critics seized on those words on Twitter.
So is the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PM?src=hash">#PM</a> trying to say we women are generally tolerant of terrorism? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/fail?src=hash">#fail</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/despitebeingawoman?src=hash">#despitebeingawoman</a>
—@yodakinthestoreWhen a PM of the country has such a mentality about women, we can imagine where will he drive the country to. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DespiteBeingAWoman?src=hash">#DespiteBeingAWoman</a>
—@rohanrguptaWhen you don't see and think of women as equal & respect then for who they are, you end up saying sexist things like <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DespiteBeingAWoman?src=hash">#DespiteBeingAWoman</a>!!
—@FashionopolisIndira Gandhi managed to liberate Bangladesh <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DespiteBeingAWoman?src=hash">#DespiteBeingAWoman</a> thank you Mr PM for insulting every woman!
—@bainjalSome Indian women boasted, with tongue firmly in cheek, about their own accomplishments #DespiteBeingAWoman.
ok. off to work. after cooking sending kid to school to write big story and run errands. like every other woman i know <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/despitebeingawoman?src=hash">#despitebeingawoman</a>
—@Gayatri__JThe hashtag was filled with photos of accomplished women in Indian politics, science and technology.
The 2 strong PMs <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DespiteBeingAWoman?src=hash">#DespiteBeingAWoman</a> <a href="http://t.co/ZlcGxnnDDO">pic.twitter.com/ZlcGxnnDDO</a>
—@MehekF1940s :: Noor-un-Nisa , Indian princess who was also a British spy during World War II <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DespiteBeingAwoman?src=hash">#DespiteBeingAwoman</a> <a href="http://t.co/pbbKB8LKTy">pic.twitter.com/pbbKB8LKTy</a>
—@IndiaHistorypicMarie Curie winner of Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Nobel Prize in Physics. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DespiteBeingAWoman?src=hash">#DespiteBeingAWoman</a> <a href="http://t.co/i3iFUWsgxk">pic.twitter.com/i3iFUWsgxk</a>
—@arunmsk<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DespiteBeingAWoman?src=hash">#DespiteBeingAWoman</a> On 'Amazing Grace' Hopper, legend of early computer science. [via <a href="http://t.co/VBE7i3S87f">http://t.co/VBE7i3S87f</a>] <a href="http://t.co/zdOtBei0Yf">pic.twitter.com/zdOtBei0Yf</a>
—@NigelBrittoHowever, Modi's defenders also posted using the same hashtag.
Those Modi haters & self crowned liberals , making fun of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DespiteBeingAWoman?src=hash">#DespiteBeingAWoman</a> things probably havent understood south Asia well .
—@PawanDuraniLater Monday morning, the counter-hashtag #ModiEmpowersWomen was the top Twitter trending topic in India.
some time ago <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DespiteBeingAWoman?src=hash">#DespiteBeingAWoman</a> trending against PM Modi; Now <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ModiEmpowersWomen?src=hash">#ModiEmpowersWomen</a> trending.. Modi Army turning it around
—@RahulEaswarChai Pe Charcha with <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi">@narendramodi</a> on International Women's Day, on Women Safety and Empowerment. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ModiEmpowersWomen?src=hash">#ModiEmpowersWomen</a> <a href="http://t.co/xNhJoTG5w4">pic.twitter.com/xNhJoTG5w4</a>
—@AbhishekVHPWith files from Reuters.