President Pranab Mukherjee's sonAbhijit stoked a major controversy by describing womenparticipating in Delhi protests against gangrape of a studentas 'highly dented and painted', triggering angry backlash.
"Those who are coming in the name of students in therallies, sundori, sundori mahila (beautiful women), highlydented and painted," Abhijit Mukherjee, an MP from Jangipurseat which the President had vacated before his election, tolda vernacular news channel.
"Giving interviews in TV and showing off their children. Iwonder whether they are students at all," he said, adding,"what's basically happening in Delhi is something likepink revolution, which has very little connection with groundrealities."
As his "insensitive" remarks sparked outrage with even hissister Sharmistha expressing "utter shock and anguish" andapologising on his behalf, Abhijit "withdrew" his comments andsaid they were not meant to hurt "any particular section orany particular sentiment".
"I express my utter shock and anguish. I really apologiseto every women, man and every sensitive person in thiscountry... I am utterly shocked and only thing I can say isthat I really apologise on his behalf... I am quite surprisedwith what my brother said," Sharmistha said.
Asked whether Abhijit should apologise for his words, shesaid, "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 aboutbeing a political leader, it shows a certain degree ofinsensitivity... My family is not like that," she said.