'Atishi changed her father': BJP's Ramesh Bidhuri ignites another row after sexist remarks on Priyanka Gandhi

The comments prompted a sharp retort from AAP and its chief Arvind Kejriwal, who warned that the women in the capital would take revenge for the remarks made by the BJP leader.

New Delhi: After remarks against Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for which he expressed regret, BJP candidate Ramesh Bidhuri on Sunday triggered another controversy by taking a jibe at Delhi Chief Minister Atishi claiming that she has "changed her father".

This prompted a sharp retort from AAP and its chief Arvind Kejriwal, who warned that the women in the capital would take revenge for the remarks made by the BJP leader.

At a rally in Delhi which was later addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP candidate said, "Kejriwal had claimed he would not form an alliance with the corrupt Congress. Atishi has changed her father. Earlier she was Marlena, now she is Singh. She has changed her father. This is their character.”

Bidhuri, a former Lok Sabha MP, has been pitted against Atishi and Congress' Alka Lamba in Kalkaji. On Saturday, Bidhuri had made a sexist comment against Congress leader Priyanka that he would make Kalkaji's roads like her cheeks, a comment for which he expressed regret on Sunday following a controversy.

The Delhi Chief Minister was named Atishi Marlena by her parents, with Marlena being a mix of Marx and Lenin. However before 2019 Lok Sabha elections, she omitted her surname as her opponents campaigned that she was a Christian and went by single name. For some time, she was also called Atishi Singh.

Sharing a video of Bidhuri's remarks, Kejriwal posted on 'X', "BJP leaders have crossed all limits of shamelessness. BJP leaders are abusing Delhi Chief Minister Atishi-ji. The people of Delhi will not tolerate the insult of a woman Chief Minister. All the women of Delhi will take revenge for this."

AAP said in a statement that Bidhuri's "abusive remarks" against a sitting woman Chief Minister "expose" the BJP’s "anti-women mindset".

"If he behaves this way now, imagine the treatment ordinary women would face if he mistakenly becomes an MLA?" it said adding that Kejriwal has ensured free bus rides, CCTV cameras, and bus marshals for their safety.

"His promise of a ₹2,100 monthly allowance for mothers and sisters has rattled the BJP, which is now openly hurling abuses at women of Delhi. Delhi’s people will teach the BJP and Ramesh Bidhuri a lesson by defeating him at the hands of a woman Chief Minister in Kalkaji," it said.