Chandigarh, September 24, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab on Thursday condemned alleged derogatory remarks made by senior BJP leader and former minister Surjit Kumar Jyani against Abohar constituency in-charge Dr Suhani Doda, with the party demanding an unconditional apology from him.
Addressing a press conference, Dr Suhani Doda, accompanied by AAP Women’s Wing state president and MLA Dr Amandeep Kaur, alleged that Jyani made the remarks on September 20 at a BJP programme in Abohar while addressing BJP Punjab president Sunil Jakhar. According to Doda, Jyani used derogatory language against her and said she was “not even equal to a shoe under his foot.”
Doda said the alleged remark was an insult not only to her but to women more broadly. She questioned the BJP’s position on women, pointing to the party’s “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” slogan and its references to the worship of goddesses.
She also questioned the silence of BJP leaders who, according to her, were present on the stage when the alleged remark was made. Doda named former Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar and BJP women leaders Mona Jaiswal, Vandana Sangwal, Vijaylaxmi Bhadu and Abohar Mayor Pooja Wadhwa, and asked why they had not publicly condemned the statement.
Dr Amandeep Kaur said the incident reflected what she described as a broader pattern of derogatory remarks by BJP leaders against women. She also referred to previous controversies involving BJP leaders, while criticising the party’s treatment of women.
Taking aim at the former Akali Dal-BJP alliance, Kaur also criticised SAD leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal and raised questions concerning issues involving women that she said required clarification.
Kaur said AAP had demonstrated its commitment to women’s political representation by giving election tickets to 12 women, 11 of whom, according to her, won and entered the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, with some subsequently becoming Cabinet ministers.
Doda has filed a complaint with the Punjab State Commission for Women over the alleged remarks. Kaur said the Commission has taken cognisance of the complaint and issued a notice to Jyani to appear before it.
Kaur said AAP’s Women’s Wing would continue to support Doda and would not remain silent until Jyani and the BJP leaders concerned tendered what she described as an unconditional apology.
She also appealed to women across Punjab to respond to what she termed an “anti-women mindset” within the BJP and said the AAP Women’s Wing had the support of more than 2.5 lakh women workers.
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