Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday slammed former BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri over his controversial reference to her cheeks, calling it "ridiculous" and "irrelevant". The Wayanad MP also took a jibe at the BJP leader saying that he did not speak about his own cheeks.
It is a "ridiculous remark", she said, adding that "all this is irrelevant".
Priyanka Gandhi, while leaving after attending a joint parliamentary committee meeting on Wednesday, further said that important issues should be discussed ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections instead of speaking about irrelevant topics. "Elections are taking place in Delhi. Important issues should be discussed," she said.
Her remarks come days after Bidhuri said that he would make roads of Kalkaji as smooth as Priyanka Gandhi's cheeks if he is elected as an MLA in the Delhi polls. Bidhuri is BJP's candidate from the Kalkaji Assembly constituency and will be contesting against Delhi Chief Minister Atishi. Although he later expressed regret over his remarks and took them back, they sparked a massive row and drew criticism from opposition leaders, who described his comments as "distasteful" and "sexist".
Congress leader Supriya Shrinate had also slammed the BJP leader in a post on X, where she said his remarks were reflective of his "ugly mindset" towards women.
"BJP is extremely anti-women. Ramesh Bidhuri's statement regarding Priyanka Gandhi is not only shameful but also shows his disgusting mentality towards women. But what else can be expected from a man who abused his fellow MP in the House and did not get any punishment?" she wrote on X in Hindi.
After massive flak from the opposition, Bidhuri expressed regret and issued a clarification for his remarks. However, he also defended himself citing RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav's "similar remarks on BJP MP Hema Malini" as he said that such remarks have been made in the past as well.
"I respect women and I take my words back if they have hurt someone but I think Congress and AAP should also introspect," Bidhuri said.