After widespread condemnation from political parties like the BJP, the NCP Maharashtra Water Supply and Sanitation Minister Gulabrao Patil have apologised for his comments comparing roads in his constituency with BJP MP Hema Malini's cheeks.
Addressing an election rally for Bodwad Nagar panchayat in Jalgaon district on Sunday, Patil, taunting his political adversary NCP leader Eknath Khadse, had said: "Those who have served as MLA for 30 years should visit my Dharangaon constituency. They should see first-hand the development that I have carried out in my constituency. If you don't find the roads in Dharangaon like the cheeks of Hema Malini, then I will resign…"
The comment had drawn the state women's commission's ire which asked the minister to apologise or face legal action. The women's commission chairperson, Rupali Chakankar, who is also the state NCP women's wing chief, said that Patil's statement is highly deplorable and demeaning of the womenfolk as a representative of people.
Later on Monday, the Shiv Sena minister said in a video message that his intention was to highlight the good roads in his constituency. "However, my statement was misunderstood. If my statement has hurt anyone, I would like to apologise…," Gulabrao Patil added.
Meanwhile, the state BJP said it will file a police complaint against the minister for making "insulting and undignified" remarks. BJP leader Pravin Darekar, who is the opposition leader in the state Legislative Council, said that an offence should be registered against Patil for denigrating womenfolk.
While the NCP said with the minister's apology, the chapter is closed for them, the BJP said it is still contemplating legal action against Patil.
Malini on the other hand reacted on the issue that "A trend of such statements was started by Lalu Ji years ago and many people have followed this trend. Such comments are not in a good taste", reported Times of India