New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said the fact that Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Kamal Nath called a BJP bypoll candidate an ‘item’ was ‘unfortunate’. The Congress veteran, on the other hand, maintained this was not intended to disrespect.
Addressing a campaign meeting on Sunday for the November 3 by-election to Madhya Pradesh assembly from Dabra constituency, where the BJP has fielded onetime Congress MLA Imarti Devi, Kamal Nath had said the Congress candidate was a”simple person” unlike his opponent, who was an “item”.
“One cannot treat women with disrespect. Kamal Nath ji is from my party, but I don’t personally like that type of language that Kamal Nath ji has used. I do not appreciate it. It is unfortunate,” Rahul said, while on a three day visit to Kerala.
The Wayanad MP said a lot needed to be improved with regard to treatment of women in the country be it basic respect, space accorded to them in business, in government and other areas.
Also read: BJP Leaders Protest Across MP Against Kamal Nath’s Comment on Dabra Poll Candidate
“Our women are our pride. They should be protected and I don’t appreciate this type of language,” he added.
Kamal Nath claimed that he did not say anything disrespectful and maintained that he would not apologise.
Nath claimed the word “item’ is used in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, but the BJP has tried to “mislead” by making it an issue to divert people’s attention as it has sensed its impending defeat in the November 3 by-polls in Madhya Pradesh.
“I did not say anything disrespectful. I respect women. If anyone thinks this is disrespectful, then I regret it,” he told reporters on Monday night.
State BJP leaders, led by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, on Monday held a protest against Nath, while the National Commission for Women sought an explanation from the Congress leader for his remark.
Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan at one of the protests against Kamal Nath’s remark. Photo: Twitter/@ChouhanShivraj
In a letter to Chouhan on Monday night, Nath wrote, “I didn’t make any disgraceful remarks but you served lies…the word I said has a lot of meanings. Your party is serving lies and misleading by interpreting the word arbitrarily.”
By-polls to 28 Madhya Pradesh Assembly seats will be held on November 3.
(With PTI inputs)