NARESH AGRAWAL WITHDRAWS HIS JAYA COMMENT

NEW DELHI: Facing a backlash for his ‘sexist’ comments against actor-politician Jaya Bachchan, Rajya Sabha member and newly minted BJP leader Naresh Agrawal on Tuesday regretted his remarks but said his words were twisted by the media.

Agrawal walked out of the Samajwadi Party and joined the BJP on Monday after he lost out to Bachchan in the race for re-nomination to the Upper House. At a press conference to announce his induction in the BJP, Agrawal said he was bypassed for the Rajya Sabha for someone who used to “dance and act in films”.

“My intention was not to hurt anybody’s sentiments. I regret if my comment has hurt somebody’s feelings and withdraw my words,” Agarwal said, adding media had twisted his comments.

His comments invited strong criticism from several BJP leaders, including external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, who said the comments were “improper and unacceptable”.

Her ministerial colleague, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, too, came down hard on Agrawal.

Talking to media on Monday, Agrawal said he walked out of the SP because he was compared to “those working in films... I was rejected for those who dance in films, work in films”.