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Kolkata/New
Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee's son Abhijit, a
Congress MP, has landed in a controversy following his comments
running down women who had been participating in the mass protests
at Delhi after the Dec 16 gang-rape of a trainee physiotherapist.
Not only did Abhijit's sister Sarmishtha express "utter shock and
anguish" at the remarks, she also apologised and asked her brother
to do the same. Later Thursday, Abhijit offered an unconditional
apology for his comments.
Speaking to a regional television channel in his earlier assembly
constituency Nalhati in Birbhum district on Christmas Day, Abhijit
Mukherjee said that "highly dented-painted" women visited
discotheques and then appeared at India Gate to protest the Delhi
bus gang-rape.
He also said the "Sundari, Sundari (beautiful) mahila (women)"
were divorced from ground realities. He also wondered whether some
of them were at all students.
"What's basically happening in Delhi is somewhat like Egypt or
elsewhere, where there was something called the Spring Revolution,
which has very little connection with ground realities.
"In India, staging candle-light marches, going to discotheques -
we did all this during our student life too, we were students too
- I know very well what kind of character students should have."
"Those who claim to be students - I can see many beautiful women
among them they were highly dented-painted - they're giving
interviews on TV, they've brought their children to show them the
scenes.
"It's fashionable to attend protest marches now.
"I have grave doubts whether they're students because women of
that age are generally not students," said Abhijit, who was
elected MP from Jangipur Lok Sabha seat in Murshidabad to fill up
the vacancy caused by his father's elevation to the presidency.
Abhijit's comments soon became viral on the net, and criticism
flew thick and fast, embarrassing the nation's first family no
end.
Soon, his sister Sarmishtha stepped forward to undo the damage. "I
am quite surprised and disappointed with what my brother said. I
apologise on his behalf," said the danseuse.
"I express my utter shock and anguish. I really apologise to every
women, man and every sensitive person in this country".
"Not only as a president's son, but as any sensitive man, he
should not have made this kind of statement. Forget about being a
political leader, it shows a certain degree of insensitivity," she
said in New Delhi.
To a query as to whether Abhijit should apologise, she said: "I
completely agree. He should immediately apologise.
"Not only as a President's son, but as any sensitive man, he
should not have made this kind of statement. Forget about being a
political leader, it shows a certain degree of insensitivity... My
family is not like that," Sarmishtha said.
She also said her father would disagree with Abhijit's view.
In a tight spot, Abhijit apologised and withdrew the
"dented-painted" comment.
"I withdraw the particular sentence 'dented and painted' women. I
have no intention to insult any woman," he said.
There was large-scale outrage in the capital as protestors, mainly
students, gathered in large numbers to express their agony over
the rape of a paramedical student Dec 16.
Some of the protestors even took to violence and there were
clashes between them and the policemen.
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