I found the recent comments made by Ranveer Allahbadia more than shameful. I felt the same about the comments of his co-participants in the show India’s Got Latent. However, to see the high number of FIRs being registered on him quite baffling. This is simply because we have seen some of the most hateful or derogatory comments made by politicians get a lukewarm or no outrage.

The recent example and a very big one at that is that of the veteran actor and senior politician Chiranjeevi. At a recent event a few days ago, he said, “When I’m at home, it doesn’t feel like I’m surrounded by my granddaughters; it feels like I’m a ladies’ hostel warden, surrounded by ladies all around. I keep wishing and telling Charan (son and superstar Ram Charan), at least this time, have a boy so that our legacy continues, but his daughter is the apple of his eye. I’m scared that he might again have a girl.”

His comment is so problematic that it’s difficult where to begin. Firstly, he makes it clear that boys matter to him more than girls. He clearly isn’t happy being around women and girls even if they are a part of his own family because that makes him feel like a ‘ladies hostel warden’. He even goes onto say that he finds it ‘scary’ that Ram Charan might have a girl again.

Chiranjeevi is a massive star and a senior politician. If not for being the former, as a major political leader one would expect him to share progressive messages to the people of the country. But what is does is the extreme opposite of that.

We have seen and heard about plenty of couples continuing to have children until they get a boy as they believe it is a boy who carries the family legacy forward. The horrific practice of female foeticide is still very much on even in today’s day and age. The reason for these social evils still prevailing is that same obsession of having a boy over a girl.

Chiranjeevi’s comments came right when the controversy surrounding the comedians was taking place. There have been strong reactions to his comments. However, the outrage is nowhere close to what these comedians have faced.

We have clearly displayed what affects us the most.