Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has come under fire for "misogynistic" remarks made when asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "be a man" and not field a woman, the defense minister, to defend him in debates over a controversial fighter jet deal.
Gandhi, president of the Congress party, on Wednesday mocked Modi for staying away from Parliament as it discussed accusations of corruption against the government in a deal to buy 36 Rafale planes from France's Dassault Aviation and a decision to pick Reliance Defence as a domestic partner.
The government and the companies deny the charges, but the latest controversy has intensified the rivalry between Congress and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of a general election due to be held by May.