"Atishi changed her father...": BJP's Ramesh Bidhuri Stirs Another Controversy with Derogatory Remarks About Delhi CM after Sexist Jibe at Priyanka Gandhi

BJP candidate Ramesh Bidhuri from the Kalkaji Assembly constituency courted another controversy on Sunday after making a derogatory comment about Delhi Chief Minister Atishi. While addressing a public gathering at the BJP's 'Parivartan Rally' in Rohini, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi later addressed, Bidhuri targeted Atishi over her surname, implying she had changed her identity. 

"This Marlena (surname used earlier by Atishi) became Singh, changed name. Kejriwal swore over his children not to go with the corrupt Congress, Marlena changed father. Earlier, she was Marlena, now she has become Singh. This is their character," Bidhuri said, drawing immediate backlash.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) quickly condemned Bidhuri's remarks, accusing BJP leaders of crossing all boundaries of decency. AAP supremo and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal took to social media, expressing his outrage over the comment. "BJP leaders are hurling abuses at Delhi Chief Minister Atishi ji. Delhi people will not tolerate the insult of a woman chief minister. All the women in Delhi will take revenge for this," Kejriwal said on X. 

AAP also issued a statement, criticizing Bidhuri's comments as indicative of the BJP's "anti-women" mindset. "If he behaves this way now, imagine the treatment ordinary women would face if he mistakenly becomes an MLA," the party said, emphasizing its concern over the BJP's approach to women. The party further speculated that the BJP's unease with Kejriwal's promise of a ₹2,100 monthly allowance for women in Delhi may have triggered such remarks.

The controversy was compounded by Bidhuri's earlier remarks that day, where he made a sexist comment about Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. He had promised to make the roads in Kalkaji "as smooth as Priyanka Gandhi’s cheeks," which sparked further outrage. Congress leader Supriya Shrinate called the comment “shameful,” accusing Bidhuri of an "ugly mindset" towards women. "BJP is extremely anti-women. Ramesh Bidhuri's statement regarding Priyanka Gandhi is not only shameful but also shows his disgusting mentality towards women," Shrinate wrote on X, referring to his earlier derogatory remarks in Parliament.

Initially, Bidhuri defended his comments, comparing them to similar remarks made by RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav about actress and BJP MP Hema Malini. "What I said, I compared it with what had been said earlier. We will reply in the language they use," he explained. However, following the backlash, he later expressed regret on social media. "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," he posted. "My intention was not to insult anyone. But still, if anyone has been hurt, I express my regret."