NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from Delhi’s Kalkaji assembly constituency, Ramesh Bidhuriexpressed his “regret” after a huge row broke out following his comments on Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi on Sunday.
Speaking to news agency ANI, he said: “I express my regret and take back my words.”
What Bidhuri said
The BJP candidate in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections sparked controversy when he said that after the BJP wins, he would develop roads in his constituency as smooth as Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi’s “cheeks”.
“I assure you that just as we made the roads in Okhla and Sangam Vihar, we will make all the roads in Kalkaji like Priyanka Gandhi’s cheeks,” he was heard saying in the alleged video, which went viral on social media.
Bidhuri initially defended her comment addressing the media amid opposition criticism of her comment.
“Hema Malini is also a woman, those who made the mistake first must apologize first. She was from a simple family, she is not a woman, and the one who is from a well-known family, she is a woman, how is it possible? Congress We should rectify first, then we too will rectify. BJP doesn’t make false promises. There are 140 million common people, isn’t it a big deal that Hema Malini is from south not a Woman, everyone should get respect Congress should approve it, Lalu. hee was in her cabinet, they should have made her apologize, they didn’t ask for it because she was from a simple family. It is her hypocrisy that has ruined the country in 70 years, the country has rejected them,” he said.
When the matter spread like wildfire, Bidhuri repented and retracted his words.
“I have said that in the context of what Lalu Yadav had said. The Congress remained silent on the matter even when he (Lalu Yadav) was a minister in his government… If anyone feels hurt by my comment, I express my regret for and I take back my words.” said.
Addressing Bidhuri, Congress candidate from Kalkaji and Mahila Congress president Alka Lamba accused him of “insulting” women once again with his “usual indecent language”.
“Will the public in Kalkaji have a (person) who neither cares about the dignity of the House (Parliament) nor respects women,” he said in a post on X.
congressional leader Supriya Shrine also attacked the BJP candidate and said, “Ramesh Bidhuri’s statement on Priyanka Gandhi is not only shameful but also shows his disgusting mentality towards women. But what more can you expect from a man who used foul language against his parliamentary colleague in the House and not receive any punishment? This is the true face of the BJP.”
The BJP also faced criticism from the AAP with the Delhi CM calling the party “anti-women”.
Addressing reporters, Atishi said, “The BJP is against women, it is an open secret and it is a matter of concern that this same BJP is in charge of law and order in Delhi. Ramesh Bidhuri’s statement shows the mindset of the BJP. If The BJP leader, who is a former MP and is the party’s candidate for the 2025 Delhi elections, can make such a statement, then how will the BJP provide security to the people of Delhi?… Delhi women will give a deal worthy response to the statement of Ramesh Bidhuri and the BJP in the upcoming elections”