Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday condemned Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Agrawal’s comment that the party had denied him a ticket to the Upper House for someone “who used to dance in films”.
Agrawal, who lost out to actor-politician Jaya Bachchan in the race for re-nomination to the Upper House, quit the SP and joined the BJP on Monday.
In a tweet, Yadav said, “We condemn the BJP and Naresh Agrawal for his derogatory statement against Jaya Bachchan. This is an insult to every Indian woman and the film industry. If the BJP really respects women, then it should immediately take action against him. The women’s commission should also look into it.”
Agrawal, who has courted controversies with his statements in the past as well, made the remarks yesterday in the presence of BJP leaders, including Union minister Piyush Goyal, at a press conference held at the party headquarters.
“For someone who used to dance in films, act in films, I was denied a ticket (for the Rajya Sabha). I did not find it appropriate,” he had said.
The comment drew criticism from the most prominent woman face of the BJP, Union minister Sushma Swaraj, who said it was “unacceptable”. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra also distanced the party from Agrawal’s comment.
Agrawal’s term as a Rajya Sabha member comes to an end on April 2.
Jaya Bachchan has once again been nominated to the Upper House by the SP.