The Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi has done it again, another gaffe which has led women to join hands to protest against his insensitive remark against Leftist Rosy Bindi who is both matronly and bespectacled. As per him Bindi was “more beautiful than intelligent” thereby taking a swipe against her looks and brains in one go.

Going by the previous record Berlusconi has not been exactly a role model, Italian women had in past ignored his sex scandals and womenizing , his popularity chart has survived those, but it seems this time he has gone too far.

To rub salt in the wounds he has half heartedly apologized saying it that it was a joke in the moment of disappointment because Bindi has reportedly told him that she was not a woman at his disposal.

This is not the first time that Berlusconi has remarked upon plain jane Bindy, when his wife criticised him for fielding all pretty faces in the European elections he had allegedly retorted that “What is wrong if they are pretty, we cannot field all Rosy Bindis”

There has been a protest campaign going on where many women belonging to different fields have joined hands. “We protest against this cretinisation of women, democracy and politics,” writer Barbara Spinelli, academics Nadia Urbinati and Michela Marzano wrote in the appeal. “This man offends women and democracy. Let’s stop him.”

More than 3,000 women sent in their photos superimposed with phrases like “Women offended by a man wearing foundation cream” or “We are not your concubines”, says La Repubblica, which dedicates a full page daily to the latest signatures and photos.

A Facebook site offering Bindi solidarity has attracted 2,000 members, while women ranging from journalists to actresses and popular model Michelle Hunziker have rallied to her defense. But still pollsters are of the view that Berlusconi will be able to ride the storm yet again.