Despite being a man

Modi’s ‘compliment’ was foolish. No-one would have dared say that to Indira Gandhi

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi waves to the gathering upon arrival at the Hazrat Shahjalal International airport in Dhaka, Bangladesh. His comments to the country's prime minister brought sarcastShow more

Narendra Modi, India’s prime minister, is a cautious man, always aware of the political effect of his words. So it was a rare misstep when, over the weekend, he sought to compliment Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh’s prime minister, by saying that she “despite being a woman, is openly saying that she has zero tolerance for terrorism”.

Naturally, Mr Modi’s gaffe sparked a sarcastic surge on social media. Yet it also speaks to a wider prejudice, not merely in India, that women are the gentler, weaker sex, and that a woman is often too soft-hearted to handle difficult decisions of national security. It is a foolish idea, as the long list of tough female leaders demonstrates.

It is especially foolish from Mr Modi, who should recall history. After all, one of the most forceful and powerful leaders of the 20th century was his long-ago predecessor Indira Gandhi – towards whom, one suspects, few would have dared direct such a “compliment”.