Sushma Swaraj Welcomes Naresh Agarwal in BJP, Slams Him Over His Statement on Jaya Bachchan
Agarwal stint in the ruling BJP started on a bitter note as External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj slammed him on his remark on Bollywood veteran Jaya Bachchan hours after he joined the party.
New Delhi, March 12: After being denied for a Rajya Sabha seat, former Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Naresh Agarwal on Monday joined the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). However, Agarwal stint in BJP started on a bitter note as External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj slammed him on his remark on Bollywood veteran Jaya Bachchan hours, terming it as unacceptable.
Swaraj said Agarwal's comment on Jaya Bachchan was "improper and unacceptable”. “Naresh Agarwal has joined Bhartiya Janata Party. He is welcome. However, his comments regarding Jaya Bachhan ji are improper and unacceptable”, Swaraj tweeted.
Agarwal, who was denied a ticket for the forthcoming elections to the Upper House of Parliament referred to Jaya Bachchan and said he was compared with those who dance and work in films. “Films mein kaam karne wali se meri hesiyat kardi gayi, unke naam par humara ticket kataa gaya, maine isko bhi bahut uchit nahi samjha. Main koi shart par nahi aya, koi Rajya Sabka ki ticket ki maang nahi hai (The SP chose a woman who works in movies and didn’t choose me. It was unacceptable. I have not joined the BJP on any condition or demand for Rajya Sabha ticket),” Agarwal had told reporters. Jaya, an actor-turned-politician, was picked last week by the Samajwadi Party as its nominee for the one Rajya Sabha seat the party can win in elections this month.
Agarwal, a seven-time MLA from Hardoi is known for making controversial statements. He added saying his comment wasn't meant to hurt anyone's feelings. The remarks have also caused a furore on social media, with several people already calling for BJP to sack him. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra, too, immediately clarified that the BJP "has no prejudice against anyone from any profession."
The SP has only 47 votes and party chief Akhilesh Yadav can only send one leader to Parliament. The Party has six Rajya Sabha MPs including Kiranmayee Nanda, Darshan Singh Yadav, Naresh Agarwal, Jaya Bachchan, Munawwar Saleem and Alok Tiwari – who are retiring. The SP, however, decided to send only Jaya Bachchan to Rajya Sabha. It must be noted that the remaining 9 additional votes will be given to the BSP candidate under the party coalition.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 12, 2018 09:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).