Maharashtra Assembly Election: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant on Saturday apologised for his alleged sexist remarks against the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena's Assembly poll candidate Shaina NC and said he had no intention to defame anyone with his words.
Sawant, the MP from Mumbai South claimed his statement was tweaked for political gains. "For the last one day, an atmosphere is being created that I have insulted a woman, I have never done this in my life. I am being deliberately targeted by giving a different meaning to my words, I am sad about this but still, if my statement has hurt anyone's feelings then I express regret. The respect of women in the country cannot be seen according to the party," he said while addressing the media in Mumbai
The Mumbai South MP landed in soup after a video went viral on Friday which purportedly showed him referring to Shaina NC as "imported maal". Shaina NC left the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to join the Shinde Sena earlier this week.
She is contesting the November 20 assembly election from the Mumbadevi constituency in Mumbai. She is pitted against Amin Patel of Congress from the constituency.
After the controversy over the remark erupted, an FIR was registered in Mumbai on Friday. Shaina also called on the Mumbai Police to take appropriate action against the Shiv Sena-UBT leader. She also attacked Shiv Sena UBT, saying Sawant's statement showed the mentality of the Uddhav Thackeray-led party.
"Calling a professional and a political worker of 20 years a 'maal' shows the mentality of Shiv Sena (UBT). Why are Uddhav Thackeray, Sharad Pawar, and Nana Patole silent?" she asked.
"The voters of Mumbadevi will teach the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) a lesson," she said.
Earlier, reacting to her charge, Sawant had said that Shaina had misinterpreted the word maal. "In Hindi it means goods. I also said our candidate is the original maal. Shaina is an old friend, not an enemy," he said.
"Understand the motive of spreading a narrative about bringing a video clip of a speech made two days ago. In my 50 years of political life I have never insulted anyone," he said, adding that Shaina had misinterpreted the word.