Priyanka Gandhi on Wednesday laughed at Bharatiya Janata Party MP Vinay Katiyar’s sexist comment about her and said his remark “exposes the BJP’s mindset towards the better half of the population of India.” Earlier on Wednesday, Katiyar had said it would make no difference if Priyanka Gandhi led the Congress campaign in Uttar Pradesh as “there are star campaigners much prettier than her”, according to ANI.

“If that’s all he sees in my colleagues who are such strong, brave and beautiful women that have battled through sorts of hardships to get where they are, then he makes me laugh even more,” Priyanka Gandhi said according to a tweet shared by Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala.

Katiyar’s remarks came soon after the National Commission for Women issued a notice to Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav for saying that votes were worth more than a daughter’s honour, though he denied having said anything wrong.

“The honour of being able to cast a vote is above a daughter’s honour...If a daughter’s honour is violated, her neighbourhood and village lose their respectability. But if a vote is sold, it affects the entire country,” he said in Patna on Tuesday.

Priyanka Gandhi’s husband, Robert Vadra, said he was “shocked” at the misogynist remarks by Katiyar and demanded an apology from him. Surjewala too demanded an apology from Katiyar. “These atrocious remarks reveal the petty lowly mindset of the BJP leadership towards Indian women,” he told ANI.

Priyanka Gandhi has been in news since she was credited with sealing the Congress’ alliance with the Samajwadi Party. There has been speculation that she will lead the party’s campaign in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the polls in February.