Congress MP Sanjay Nirupam was today at the centre of a controversy over his unsavoury remark against BJP MP Smriti Irani with his party voicing its disapproval and the opposition party deciding to boycott TV debates involving him.
The remark against the TV actor-turned politician made during the course of a discussion on TV, when results of Assembly polls were pouring, triggered protests by BJP workers in Mumbai and a demand for an apology from Nirupam.
“This is very regrettable. To say such a thing is unfortunate. It is this mindset, which we have to fight,” Congress spokesperson Renuka Chowdhary said, voicing the ruling party’s disapproval.
Angered by Nirupam’s “indecent and derogatory” comments against its women’s wing chief, BJP slammed himand announced that party spokespersons and leaders will not attend news channel debates in which he is a participant.
“The kind of language and choice of words by Nirupam in a news channel debate against Smriti Irani, who is our Mahila Morcha chief and MP as well as an established TV actor, is most unfortunate and painful. He crossed all limits of decency and decorum,” BJP chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said.
“He has made anti-women comments and BJP strongly condemns it. His party is headed by a woman, yet he has made such derogatory remarks. We expect Congress President Sonia Gandhi to take action against him and apologise herself,” Prasad said.
The BJP leader warned that in case Gandhi does not do so, party workers may hold protests against her.
Irani is also reported to be in the process of sending a legal notice to Nirupam for this “gross defamation” and the party is exploring the legal steps that can be taken against him.
The Congress MP had questioned the credentials of Irani to analyse poll results given her background as a TV actress. “Till some time ago you were dancing on the TV screens and now you have become a psephologist,” Nirupam reportedly said.
