"We know solution for everything, but not terrorism," the Prime Minister is reported to have said in his hour-long address to Dhaka University. "I am happy that Bangladesh Prime Minister, despite being a woman, has declared zero tolerance for terrorism."
Even though the remark was meant to be a gesture of praise, social-media users interpreted it as an insult to women around the world. Back home, Twitter started buzzing with tweets attached with pictures of women achievers of India: scientists from the Indian Space Research Organisation, foreign ministers, sportswomen and more.
This isn't the first time an Indian politician has made a sexist comment. In 2012, Narendra Modi found himself in a similar situation when he attacked Congress politician Shashi Tharoor at a rally with an insult against his late wife Sunanda Pushkar. Modi referred to Pushkar as a "50 crore ki girlfriend".
"Wah kya girlfriend hai," he said. "Apne kabhi dekha hai 50 crore ka girlfriend?" What a girlfriend! Have you ever seen a Rs 50-crore girlfriend?
Here's a selection of reactions on Twitter as the hashtag #DespiteBeingAWoman trended.
Most of South Asia have had female PM way before first world countries. #despitebeingawoman https://t.co/dlNomCUFNH
— Chandrika Parmar (@ParmarChandrika) June 8, 2015
How can you even say or think #despitebeingawoman when your own country had a great female PM way before most first world countries! Shame!
— Amena (@Fashionopolis) June 8, 2015
Mother called me today, #DespiteBeingAWoman.
— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) June 8, 2015
#DespiteBeingAWoman I am going out of town to report today. God, give me strength
— sunetra choudhury (@sunetrac) June 8, 2015
#despitebeingawoman is just daily life in this subcontinent.
— Rosie Roti (@supriyan) June 8, 2015
#despitebeingawoman pic.twitter.com/dpi4TMkhty
— Gayatri Jayaraman (@Gayatri__J) June 8, 2015
From the makers of Jersey Cow, pachhas crore ki girlfriend and budhia comes the new blockbuster #DespiteBeingAWoman
— Anupam Gupta (@b50) June 8, 2015
Just unbelievable that a prime minister would say anything like this #DespiteBeingAWoman https://t.co/cw7hSYvmUr
— Mihir Sharma (@mihirssharma) June 8, 2015
"#DespiteBeingAWoman" pic.twitter.com/AEyiQIF2ON
— Brumby(No MSG Found) (@brownbrumby) June 8, 2015
"#DespiteBeingAWoman" pic.twitter.com/JtGVFL58jD
— Brumby(No MSG Found) (@brownbrumby) June 8, 2015
#DespiteBeingAWoman Marie Curie won a Nobel Prize both in Physics and Chemistry.
— Pratik Sinha (@free_thinker) June 7, 2015
Managed to wake up & eat breakfast #DespiteBeingAWoman
— swati chaturvedi (@bainjal) June 8, 2015
When modi was told about the never ending list of high achieving women in the world. "#DespiteBeingAWoman" pic.twitter.com/Yad68YauDp
— Brumby(No MSG Found) (@brownbrumby) June 8, 2015
#DespiteBeingAWoman she can raise kids, wash dishes, run marathons, her bank accounts, fathom spreadsheets & change bedsheets.
— ऋचा (@NoSylviaPlath) June 8, 2015
Misogyny is ingrained in the mentality of Hindutva vadis. Ashamed of my Prime Minister. #DespiteBeingAWoman
— অগ্নিভ নিয়োগী (@Aagan86) June 8, 2015