The controversy over the recent Sabarimala verdict of Supreme Court continues and looks like it will take a long time to end. Things got even grave with the Union Minister Smriti Irani’s statement that she issued recently. She had opined that one should not take menstrual blood soaked sanitary pads into the temple. This was in response to media reports which stated that one female activist named Rehana Fathima, while entering Sabarimala temple, was intentionally carrying a used sanitary pad. However, her comment was widely misinterpreted and many came up with their own interpretations in an attempt to politicize the incident.

Singer Soumita Saha has openly come out in support of Ms. Irani. In a statement she said that used sanitary pads are unhygienic and pose threats to health. Those should be thrown away immediately or the individual can become vulnerable to infections. These should be thrown away in dustbins and sewerage. She also mentioned that there is a reason why they have been named as sanitary napkins.

The singer also criticized the feminists for destroying the essence of feminism. She mentioned that desecrating public places is not feminism. Offering used sanitary pads to Gods is practising opportunism in the garb of feminism. Who would accept a used sanitary pad? If you cannot accept that, why would you give that to God?

Well, Soumita has put forward some pretty rational points!!

Priyanka Dutta