We register our strong protest against the series of malicious, slanderous and sexist statements being resorted to by the leaders of the Atal Behari Vajpayee-led alliance during their election campaign. The Indian Express of Sunday, August 29, 1999 reports George Fernandes as having said the following at a speech in Bellary: ‘What is her (Sonia’s) contribution to the nation? Yes, there is one contribution—the two children she gave birth to. She has contributed two people to the population of our country. Is there anything else?’ The report adds that he referred to ‘Congressmen as eunuchs’.

This statement by Fernandes was being made even as his ministerial colleague Pramod Mahajan was tendering an apology for his remarks comparing the President of the Indian National Congress with Monica Lewinsky.

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We see a perverted and cowardly pattern in these low-level tactics of electioneering.

We appeal to journalists covering the elections to boycott their meetings.

We appeal to the Election Commission to debar Pramod Mahajan and George Fernandes from campaigning, as an exemplary act, to ensure that the election campaign may be conducted with dignity and fairness.

Signed, among others, by:
Subhadra Joshi, Githa  Hariharan, Indira Chandrasekhar, Rati Bartholomew, Jayati Ghosh, Nalini Taneja, Zoya Hasan, Suvira Jaiswal, Utsa Patnaik, Nilima Sheikh, Geeta Kapur, Kumkum Sangari, Shakti Kak, Radhika Menon, Madhu Prasad, Mannika Chopra, Imrana Qadeer, Lima Kanungo, Estelle Desai, Ambika Nair, Bishakha De Sarkar