Facing privilege motion in Parliament, actor Om Puri — one of the Bollywood stars who visited the Ramlila grounds on Friday to extend support to Gandhian Anna Hazare — on Monday apologised for making derogatory remarks against politicians and said he was ready to appear before MPs if summoned.
The 61-year-old Bollywood veteran also denied that he was drunk when he made a no-holds-barred attack on politicians on the 11th day of Mr. Hazare's fast.
Mr. Puri said he regretted the two words he used — ‘naalayak' (incompetent) and ‘ganwar' (a word often used to describe a backward and an illiterate person) — for his description of the political class, admitting they were inappropriate.
Yet to get notice
“I got to know about the privilege motion from the media. I am yet to receive a notice. I believe in our Constitution and the parliamentary system. If I am called, I am ready to go before them and clarify. I will wait and see what happens,” Mr. Puri told PTI.
“I was very emotional and I regret using those words, which may have hurt some sentiments. I could have opted for better words. I feel I spoke like a man on the street,” he said, adding, “I was not drunk. I need support to climb stairs because of an old surgery.”
Heat of the moment
The outburst came in the heat of the moment on seeing Mr. Hazare's condition and the kind of political response to his agitation for a strong Lokpal bill, he added.
Members of both Houses of Parliament had given privilege notice against Mr. Puri and also Team Anna member Kiran Bedi for using “derogatory and defamatory” language against politicians and the matter was under consideration of the Chair.
“I have never been in a controversy in the past 35 years of my career. I have been a part of meaningful cinema and through my films I have tried to raise social issues,” Mr. Puri said, adding he has had an impeccable record.
