A day after Samajwadi Party rebel Naresh Agrawal made snide remarks against actor and Rajya Sabha member Jaya Bachchan, he expressed regret for his comments.
Mr. Agrawal, who lost out to Ms. Bachchan in the race for renomination to the upper house and quit the Samajwadi Party on Monday to join the BJP, had said that the SP gave the SP ticket to somebody who used to dance and act in films.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Agrawal on Tuesday said: “My intention was not to hurt anybody’s sentiments. I regret if my comment has hurt somebody’s feelings and withdraw my words.”
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Jaya keeps mum
Ms. Bachchan on the other hand remained mum and refused to react on Mr. Agarwal’s comments.
“I am a stubborn woman, I will not answer,” she told the reporters.
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The two did not cross paths in Parliament on Tuesday.
Awkward moments
Mr. Agarwal, however, had a few awkward moments. According to sources, as his usual habit, he went to sit next to Samajwadi Party leader Ramgopal Yadav. “Even before he could settle in his seat professor saab (Ramgopal Yadav), pointing towards the BJP MPs, told him that BJP president Amit Shah was looking for him. He glumly got up and went to sit behind Mr. Shah and other MPs in the Central Hall,” a senior SP leader said.
Members across party lines congratulated Ms. Bachchan for her renomination to the upper house and also condemned Mr. Agarwal’s comments.