Roads Like Priyanka Gandhi's Cheeks: BJP Leader’s Remark Sparks Row

A massive political row erupted on Sunday after BJP candidate from the Kalkaji assembly seat in Delhi Ramesh Bidhuri said that if the party comes to power in the polls, it will build “roads like Priyanka Gandhi’s cheeks" in the constituency.

Calling the BJP an "anti-woman party," Congress slammed Bidhuri's remarks as "shameful" and that it "reflected his ugly mindset". The party would file an FIR against the BJP leader.

"This is BJP's real face. The party's top leadership should seek Priyanka Gandhi's forgiveness with folded hands," Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said.

Bidhuri confirmed that he had made these remarks while pointing out that Lalu Prasad Yadav once said that he would turn Bihar's roads as smooth as actor-politician Hema Malini's cheeks. Responding to the Congress's attack, Bidhuri said, "Isn't Hema Malini a woman? Hema Malini is far superior to Priyanka Gandhi when it comes to achievements in life."

Meanwhile, AAP MP Sanjay Singh also attacked Bidhuri, while questioning the BJP's respect for women. "This is BJP's candidate, listen to his language, this is BJP's respect for women. Is the respect of Delhi's women safe in the hands of such leaders?" he said in a tweet in Hindi.

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.