Roads like Priyanka Gandhi’s cheeks: BJP leader’s sexist jibe, Congress hits back

Ramesh Bidhuri, the BJP candidate from Delhi’s Kalkaji, on Sunday courted a massive controversy after he said.

That he would make the roads of his Assembly constituency as smooth as Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s cheeks if he wins the upcoming elections. “Lalu Yadav once famously claimed that he would make the roads of Bihar as smooth as Hema Malini’s cheeks, but he failed to deliver on that promise. I assure you, however, that just as we have transformed the roads in Okhla and Sangam Vihar, we will ensure that every road in Kalkaji is made as smooth as Priyanka Gandhi’s cheeks,” the former BJP MP said while addressing an event in the capital city.

The remark was met with widespread outrage from Congress leaders, who accused the BJP of harbouring an “anti-woman mindset.”

Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate criticised Bidhuri’s comments, calling them ‘shameful’ and reflective of a “disgusting mentality” towards women. “BJP is extremely anti-women. Ramesh Bidhuri’s statement regarding Priyanka Gandhi is not only shameful but also shows his disgusting mentality. What else can be expected from a man who abused his fellow MP in Parliament without facing any punishment?” she wrote on X.

Shrinate also asked the BJP leadership to seek Priyanka Gandhi’s forgiveness with folded hands.

Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera echoed similar sentiments, asserting that Bidhuri’s words reflect the values of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological parent of the BJP.

“This rudeness doesn’t just show the mentality of this vile man, it shows the reality of his owners. From top to bottom, you will see the values of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in these petty leaders of BJP,” Pawan Khera said.

RAMESH BHIDURI EXPLAINS REMARK
Facing backlash, Bidhuri defended his remarks, arguing that the Congress had no grounds to criticise him given their past actions.

Speaking to India Today TV, he pointed to Lalu Yadav’s comments about Hema Malini as a precedent, adding, “If Congress feels pained by my statement, why didn’t they apologise to Hema Malini? She is a celebrated artist who has brought glory to India. Isn’t Hema Malini a woman? She far surpasses Priyanka Gandhi in achievements”.

The BJP candidate later took to his X handle and said that his intention was not to insult anyone.

“Some people are making statements on social media for political gain with a wrong perception based on a statement given by me in some context. My intention was not to insult anyone. But still, if anyone has been hurt then I express my regret,” Bidhuri said.

AAP SLAM RAMESH BIDHURI
Meanwhile, Congress’s INDIA bloc ally Aam Aadmi Party also condemned Bidhuri’s comments. AAP MP Sanjay Singh called the remarks “cheap and shameless”, questioning the BJP’s respect for women.

“It is very shameful. BJP has given a ticket to a person who used abusive language in the Parliament and also to the person who was openly distributing money to the people,” Singh said.

“Making such cheap and shameless comments on a senior Congress leader is very unfortunate. The women of Delhi must have understood the kind of security they will be getting under their rule,” he added.

BJP LEADER’S PAST CONTROVERSIES
This is not the first time that Bidhuri has got himself into trouble for making controversial statements. In 2023, Bidhuri passed communal remarks against then-BSP MP Danish Ali in Lok Sabha. The remarks, which were caught on camera, were described as unbecoming for a parliamentarian by several political leaders.

The BJP leader later expressed his “regret” over the objectionable remarks.