"Roads as smooth as Priyanka Gandhi's cheeks...": BJP's Ramesh Bidhuri Under Fire for Sexist Remarks

"Will make roads as smooth as Priyanka Gandhi's cheeks," said BJP leader Ramesh Bidhuri, stoking a major controversy with his sexist remark about the newly elected Congress MP. The statement, which quickly went viral, was met with sharp condemnation from Congress, who called it a reflection of a "disgusting mentality." Bidhuri later expressed regret, clarifying that his intent was not to insult anyone. 

During a campaign speech in Kalkaji, from where he is contesting against Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, Bidhuri promised to improve the condition of roads in his constituency, comparing them to the "smoothness" of Priyanka Gandhi’s cheeks. "I assure you that just as we made the roads in Okhla and Sangam Vihar, we will make all the roads in Kalkaji as smooth as Priyanka Gandhi’s cheeks," Bidhuri said in the video. His comments quickly drew sharp criticism from various political parties, including the Congress.

Congress leader Alka Lamba demanded an apology from Bidhuri, calling his remarks disrespectful towards women. "As soon as he was declared the candidate from Kalkaji, Ramesh Bidhuri once again insulted women in his usual indecent language," Lamba posted on social media. She questioned whether the people of Kalkaji would tolerate a candidate who, in her words, "neither cares about the dignity of the Parliament nor respects women."

Senior Congress leader Supriya Shrinate also condemned Bidhuri’s comment, accusing him of displaying a "disgusting mentality" towards women. "Ramesh Bidhuri's statement regarding Priyanka Gandhi is not only shameful but also shows his disgusting mentality towards women," Shrinate said in a statement. She also linked this to a previous incident where Bidhuri had used offensive language against fellow MP Kunwar Danish Ali, accusing the BJP of an "anti-women" mindset and endorsing such behavior.

AAP leader Sanjay Singh added his voice to the outcry, calling the comment "deeply shameful" and stating that the remark undermined the dignity of both women and political leaders. "It is deeply shameful that Ramesh Bidhuri has made such offensive remarks about a leader like Priyanka Gandhi-ji," Singh said, also criticizing the BJP for not taking appropriate action against Bidhuri.

In response to the backlash, Bidhuri defended his remarks, accusing his critics of hypocrisy. He justified his statement by referencing a previous comment allegedly made by former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav about actress-turned-politician Hema Malini. "What I said, I compared it with what had been said earlier. We will reply in the language they use," Bidhuri explained. He continued, "If Congress will rectify their mistake, the same will be done by us."

Later, Bidhuri took to social media to express regret over the comment, stating that his intention was never 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," he wrote. "My intention was not to insult anyone. But still, if anyone has been hurt, I express my regret."

This incident is not the first time Ramesh Bidhuri has been embroiled in controversy. In September 2023, he faced widespread condemnation for making Islamophobic remarks against Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MP Kunwar Danish Ali during a parliamentary session. Despite the uproar, the BJP took no significant disciplinary action against him, prompting opposition leaders to accuse the party of tacitly endorsing his behavior. Speaker Om Birla had warned Bidhuri that strict action would be taken if such behavior was repeated, and the remarks were expunged from the parliamentary record.