Lucknow, June 10: In what could stir a controversy, a Bharatiya Janata Party lawmaker in Uttar Pradesh expressed doubts over the integrity and honesty of BJP ministers in the state and central government. While addressing a gathering in Gonda on Saturday, BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan said he "cannot guarantee" anyone's integrity in the party barring Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

"I am certain about the fact that our Prime Minister and Chief Minister are not indulging in even a penny-worth of corruption. No one can doubt their uprightness. But please listen carefully... I've said that only the PM and CM are non-corrupt. I cannot say the same thing about other ministers and leaders of our party," Sharan was reported as saying.

Sharan, who represents the Kaiserganj constituency in the Lok Sabha, had earlier drew the Opposition's wrath for comparing Congress president Rahul Gandhi with a "barking dog".

Sharan's latest contentious remark comes a couple of days after BJP MLA from UP, Surendra Singh generated flak for comparing government officials to prostitutes.

Singh, while speaking in Patna, advised a gathering to deal with "ghoosas" (punches) with officials if the latter seek "ghoos" (bribe). He further went on to say that a prostitute is better than a "babu" as "she dances on the stage if you give her money, but the officials won't get your work done despite being bribed."

The remarks from the BJP lawmakers comes days after PM Modi, in the BJP parliamentary meeting held on April 23, warned his party leaders against issuing "irresponsible" statements. "Don't give masala to the media by speaking when not required," Modi had said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 10, 2018 04:58 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).