Criticised for getting into a verbal skirmish with the Union Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani in the Rajya Sabha, JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav on Wednesday regretted his comments and said he is “saddened” by media reports attributing sexist comments to him.
Mr. Yadav had >recently courted controversy when during a discussion on the Insurance Bill in the House he made a >reference to the complexion of South Indian women and on a later date snapped at Ms. Irani when she asked him to refrain from making such comments. Mr. Yadav, who initially declined to apologise for his comments, asserting that he stood by what he had said, on Wednesday clarified that he “respects” Ms. Irani.
The JD(U) leader said he respects both the Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitaraman and HRD Minister Smriti Irani and is “saddened by what has come out [in the papers].”
“I think Nirmala Sitaraman is the best minister, she is competent...As for Smriti Irani, I was the first one to defend her when a controversy erupted over her degree. I said then I am a political scientist though I do not have a degree [in it],” he said in the Rajya Sabha.
Mr. Yadav's clarification came soon after Leader of the House Arun Jaitley, while addressing the Chair said during a discussion on March 16, the senior JD(U) leader had made a statement that has created an “improper impression”, which needs to be clarified.
Mr. Yadav was severely criticised this past week for referring to the complexion of women from South India and their dancing skills and subsequently getting into a spat with Ms. Irani when she urged him not to make improper references towards women. When the issue was raised in the House by Ms. Irani, Mr. Yadav had lashed at out her.
A Rajya Sabha member not wishing to be quoted said the House needs to have a system in place to check indecorous behaviour towards women. “This kind of behaviour is unacceptable, that message should go out loud and clear,” the Member said.
