C.P. Joshi regrets making casteist remark after being censured by Rahul Gandhi

Gandhi's remarks came after a video of Joshi surfaced on Thursday in which he is heard saying that only pandits and brahmins knew about Hinduism and were learned enough to speak about it.

New Delhi: The Congress on Friday distanced itself from senior leader C.P. Joshi's statement that "only Brahmins know and can talk about Hinduism" with party President Rahul Gandhi saying his remarks were against the ideology of the party and he should apologise for it.

He also warned party leaders to refrain from making any statements which may hurt sentiments of any section of the society.

"C.P. Joshi's statement is against the ideals of the Congress party. Party leaders should refrain from making any statement which may hurt any section of the society," Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.

"Respecting the principles of the party and sentiments of its workers, Joshiji would definitely realise his mistake. He should express remorse for his statement."

सी पी जोशी जी का बयान कांग्रेस पार्टी के आदर्शों के विपरीत है। पार्टी के नेता ऐसा कोई बयान न दें जिससे समाज के किसी भी वर्ग को दुःख पहुँचे।

कांग्रेस के सिद्धांतों, कार्यकर्ताओं की भावना का आदर करते हुए जोशीजी को जरूर गलती का अहसास होगा। उन्हें अपने बयान पर खेद प्रकट करना चाहिए। — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) November 23, 2018

Joshi apologises: 

Following Gandhi's statement, C.P. Joshi on Friday apologised for his remarks. "Respecting the ideals of the Congress and the sentiments of the party workers, I express remorse for my statement if it caused any hurt to the sentiments of any section of the society," he said in a brief statement.

कांग्रेस के सिद्धांतो एवं कार्यकर्ताओं की भावनाओं का सम्मान करते हुए मेरे कथन से समाज के किसी वर्ग को ठेस पहुँची हो तो मैं उसके लिए खेद प्रकट करता हूँ ।

— Dr. C.P. Joshi (@drcpjoshi) November 23, 2018

Gandhi's remarks came after a video of Joshi surfaced on Thursday in which he is heard saying that only pandits and brahmins knew about Hinduism and were learned enough to speak about it.

"Does anyone know what is the caste of Uma Bharti? What is the caste of Sadhvi Ritambhara? In this country, if anyone knows about religion, it is the pandits and the brahmins," Joshi is heard saying in the video.