A day after courting controversy for making sexist comments against Rajya Sabha MP Jaya Bachchan, BJP's Naresh Agrawal has retracted his words and expressed regret. "I had said something which was given a different angle by the media. All I can say is that I didn't intend to hurt anyone. I express my regret, if it did hurt anyone. I take back my words," said Agrawal on Tuesday.
On Monday, soon after joining the BJP quitting the Samajwadi Party, Agrawal said the SP denied him the RS ticket and gave it to somebody who used to dance and act in films, in an apparent reference to Bachchan. "For somebody who used to dance in films, act in films, I was denied a ticket (for Rajya Sabha). I did not find it appropriate," Agrawal said while joining the BJP at its headquarters. Agrawal had lost out to Bachchan in the race for re-nomination to the upper House.
The Rajya Sabha MP's comments had created a furore with even Union ministers Sushma Swaraj and Smriti Zubin Irani expressing their displeasure.
"Naresh Agrawal has joined Bhartiya Janata Party. He is welcome. However, his comments regarding Jaya Bachhan ji are improper and unacceptable," senior BJP leader and its most prominent woman face Swaraj tweeted.
Irani, who also appeared to be critical of Agrawal's remarks, said when a woman's honour is challenged, "we stand as one in our condemnation irrespective of our politics". She did not, however, directly mention Agrawal. "My case is in the court of law for 5 years now. But let my battle not be an excuse to humiliate other women. In fact, let it be a reminder for us that when a woman's honour is challenged we stand as one in our condemnation irrespective of our politics," she said in a tweet.