Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has apologised to Congress leader Indira Hridayesh on behalf of the state BJP president for his derogatory remarks against her.
Uttarakhand BJP President Bansidhar Bhagat had referred to Ms Hridayesh, who is the Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, as “budhiya” (old woman).
“Behan ji, I am extremely sorry today. We respect women and hold them in high esteem. I personally apologise to you and to all those who are hurt,” Mr Rawat tweeted in Hindi late Tuesday night.
“Tomorrow, I will talk to you personally and again ask for forgiveness,” he said.
Although Bansidhar Bhagat has “withdrawn” his remarks, he refused to apologise to the Congress leader.
Trivendra Singh Rawat’s apology came after Congress leader asked BJP president JP Nadda to take note of the comment and instruct the party’s state unit chief to apologise. She also asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take cognisance of the remarks.
“Bansidhar Bhagat has used undignified and discourteous language for me. It has caused me extreme pain and hurt. The state president of any party represents his entire organisation and if he uses this kind of language, it also shows disrespect to women in general,” she said.
Women of this country and the state will never tolerate the way Bansidhar Bhagat has insulted women, Ms Hridayesh said.