Ramesh Bidhuri, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Kalkaji Assembly constituency in Delhi, on Sunday withdrew his remarks regarding Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi's cheeks and said that his intention was not to hurt anybody.
Bidhuri's remarks on 'roads like Priyanka Gandhi's cheeks' stirred a hornet's nest, particularly in Congress circles, as it vented its anger and indignation over an 'obnoxious' slur by the BJP leader.
Amid the row over his statement, Bidhuri said he had made those remarks in the context of former Bihar chief minister Lalu Yadav, and those remarks were not targeted at anybody.
He said that such remarks were made in the past too, but it was the Congress party which kept silent on this always. He mentioned that it was the time when Lalu insulted Hema Malini.
"Just because Priyanka Gandhi comes from a VIP family, she is treated differently. Hema Malini, who comes from a general family, is no less deserving of respect. However, if anyone is hurt by my remark, I express regret over it and I take my words back," Bidhuri told reporters.
Earlier, in the day, Congress targeted Bidhuri over his comments. Reacting to his statements, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate labeled the BJP as an "anti-woman party." She termed the comments "shameful" and a reflection of an "ugly mindset".
She demanded the BJP leadership should apologize to Priyanka Gandhi.
The controversy broke out over the recent remarks of Bidhuri about Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, during which he said he would make the "roads of the constituency as smooth as Priyanka Gandhi's cheeks", if he won the upcoming Assembly elections.
The bitter verbal exchange between Congress and BJP over his remarks underlines the escalated tensions as campaigning intensifies ahead of the Assembly elections.
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