Bihar BJP leader faces women ire over 'dehati aurat' remarks

Patna, Nov 4: Bihar

leader Giriraj Singh on Monday faced protest from a group of rural women for his comments that Chief Minister

was quarrelling with Narendra Modi like a "dehati aurat" (rural woman).

The agitating women, who were carrying bangles and 'bindi', raised slogans outside Giriraj Singh's residence here.

The BJP leader was not at his residence at that time. Later, Giriraj Singh, who served as Minister for Animal Husbandry in the Nitish Kumar government before BJP ministers were dropped by Kumar after split in NDA, expressed regret for his comments against women.

"If women have felt hurt by my comments I express regret...I never intended to hurt them," he said.

The BJP leader had told reporters on Saturday morning that Nitish Kumar was behaving like a "dehati aurat" (rural woman) and quarrelling with Narendra Modi out of jealousy.

While, he regretted the "dehati aurat" (rual woman) comment, Singh accused Bihar minister Shyam Rajak for orchestrating protest of women outside residence.

"The police remained a mute spectator while protesters had assembled in large number at my residence gate which falls in a restricted zone and where section 144 is in force always", the BJP leader, who has retained his ministerial bungalow, said.

Singh accused Bihar minister Shyam Rajak for orchestrating protest of women.

The former minister stood his ground against the CM and said his latest assertions that people would sweep outside muck with the brooms purchased on Dhanteras proves the charge of "deep jealousy" against Narendra Modi.

Shyam Rajak denied any involvement in organising protest at Singh's residence. "I can't stoop to a low level like him," he said.

Rajak said that since Nitish Kumar government has empowered women by giving them respect and 50 per cent reservation in panchayats and urban local bodies, they would not tolerate any "insult" as done by Giriraj Singh.

PTI