A day after his comments against Mulayam Singh Yadav and Lalu Prasad, BJP president Nitin Gadkari on Thursday expressed regret over his remarks, saying he had just used a phrase and had no intention of hurting anyone.
"I regret the comment made yesterday and take back my words. I have a lot of respect for Mulayam Singh Yadav and Lalu Prasad. I did not mean to hurt anyone directly or indirectly," he said at a meet-the-press programme in Chandigarh.
Claiming that he did not know that his comments would create such a furore, Gadkari said he had used a phrase, but a "wrong impression" had gone out.
"Meri baat ki bhavna alag thi. Maine sirf ek muhavare ka tor par bolo tha (What I meant was different.I was only using a phrase)", he said.
Castigating two Yadavs for not supporting the cut motions in the Lok Sabha, Gadkari, while addressing a party meeting here yesterday, had said, "Bade dakarte the sher jaise, aur kutte ke jaise ban kar Soniaji aur Congress ke ghar par talve chatne lage' (these leaders were roaring like lions but later bowed like dogs to lick the feet of Sonia and the Congress)."
He had alleged that they had gone against the cut motions due to "fear" of the CBI. In a damage control exercise, the BJP president had offered to withdraw his words if the two Yadavs had felt bad.
But, the controversy refuses to die. The SP, RJD and Congress have lashed out at Gadkari over the matter forcing him to go defensive.
When asked to comment on SP threatening to move court over his remarks, he said, "You have to try to understand the spirit behind what I said".
To another question that some leaders had charged him with taking politics to a low level with his comments, he said, "I have said whatever I had to say. I think the matter should end now".
Meanwhile, some members of city unit of Lalu Prasad's RJD staged a protest outside the Chandigarh Press Club here while Gadkari was addressing mediapersons inside the club.
The protestors were led by RJD's Chandigarh unit chief Ravinder Krishan. They gathered outside the gate and condemned the remarks made by Gadkari.
They raised slogans against the BJP chief, demanding a public apology from him for his comments. Later, the police dispersed them. However, they continued to raise slogans till Gadkari left the venue. PTI
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