'Roads like Priyanka Gandhi's cheeks': BJP's Ramesh Bidhuri kicks up row with sexist remark

Congress, AAP condemn Ramesh Bidhuri's remark

New Delhi: Plunging election rhetoric in Delhi to a new low, BJP candidate Ramesh Bidhuri has made sexist remarks against Priyanka Gandhi Vadra by promising to make roads in Kalkaji from where he contests against Chief Minister Atishi, like the “cheeks” of the Congress leader but expressed “regret” later after defending it for some time.

As a controversy arose with Congress and AAP condemning his statement, Bidhuri on Sunday defended his remarks citing Lalu Prasad Yadav’s similar remarks on actor-turned-MP Hema Malini around 30 years ago and demanding an apology from the RJD chief first. Just because Priyanka belongs to a dynasty and I should apologise and not Lalu, he asked.

However, Bidhuri later posted on ‘X’ that some people have been making statements on social media for political gain by creating wrong impressions about something he said in a specific context and added, “my intention was not to insult anyone. But still if anyone has been hurt, I express my regret.”

Some of his party colleagues like Delhi BJP chief Virender Sachdeva and West Delhi MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat expressed disapproval of his remarks.

Hours after his candidacy against Chief Minister Atishi was announced on Saturday, he said at a meeting in Kalkaji, “Lalu had said in Bihar that he will make roads like Hema Malini’s cheeks. He did not do that. He lied. But I promise you, just like we built roads of Okhla and Sangam Vihar, we will make all roads of Kalkaji as smooth as Priyanka Gandhi’s cheek.”

Earlier, condemning the “despicable mentality”, Congress Treasurer Ajay Maken demanded an apology from the BJP candidate and asked whether any woman BJP leader or party president J P Nadda or the Prime Minister said anything about Bidhuri’s abusive language.

“It is clear that the culture of disrespect towards women is deeply ingrained in the BJP. When the leadership itself has such thinking, what can be expected from others?” he posted on 'X'.

Congress Media and Publicity Department Chairman Pawan Khera said, “This rudeness doesn't just show the mentality of this vile man, it shows the reality of his master. From top to bottom, you will see the values of RSS in these petty leaders of BJP.”

Congress social media and Digital Platforms chairperson Supriya Shrinate said Bidhuri's remarks shows his mentality and the saffron party's character.

Bidhuri, who is known for making controversial statements and was in the eye of a storm in late 2023 after he made communal slurs against then MP Danish Ali in Lok Sabha, was seen sharing dais with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Parivartan Rally in Rohini.

Defending his remarks, he told reporters at the rally venue that there should be similar rules for all and that they will respond to opponents in the language they use, claiming that Khera had insulted the Prime Minister by talking ill about his father.

“First, Lalu should apologise for his remarks on Hema Malini. Just because Priyanka Gandhi is the daughter of a dynasty, I should apologise but not Lalu Yadav? Is Hema Malini not a woman? When two people make mistakes, both need to be rectified. Not one person,” he said.

AAP condemned the statement with its Rajya Sabha floor leader Sanjay Singh saying making “such cheap and shameless” comments against a “senior Congress leader was very unfortunate” while other AAP leaders sought to corner Congress candidate Sandeep Dikshit, who is fighting AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, asking him why he was silent.

Delhi Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj said, “Bidhuri, forced by his habit, spoke so badly about Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi ji but Sandeep Dixit did not have the courage to say even a single word against Ramesh Bidhuri. You can understand from this how deep the relationship between Sandeep Dikshit and BJP is.”