Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Babulal Gaur stoked another controversy by saying that a kiss on his forehead by Russian President's wife could've cost him the BJP ticket.
Addressing BJP workers and supporters recently, Gaur started talking about his Russia visit. He said that during a programme, Russian President's wife kissed him on forehead and he was worried fearing that if this picture went viral, BJP would not give him ticket.
"Unhone gale laga liya aur mera matha chumne lagi. Choro choro, agar ye photo chhap gaya to BJP hame ticket nahi deti. (She hugged me and kissed me on my forehead. I asked her to stop, if the picture gets noticed I would not have gotten BJP ticket.)"
The leader who briefly served as the Chief Minister of state 10 years ago did not stop here and told his audience how the Russian first lady was astonished with his 'dhoti' and asked him to explain how he drapes it.
"How do you drape this? Where is the chain? (I said) how do I tell you, by undraping it?" he recounted of his conversation with the lady.
When she asked him to teach her, he said, "In private."
Opposition Congress has taken strong exception to Gaur's statement. Manak Agarwal, Senior leader of the Congress, asked Babulal to issue apology for his statement before women.
Former chief of National Commission for Women Mamata Sharma also criticized Gaur for his statement and demanded strict action against him.
In June last year, Babhulal Gaur had described rape as a "social crime", professing "sometimes it's right and sometimes it's wrong." The BJP had dismissed his comments as an expression of his personal views, and not the party's.
Months before that, he had professed that there are fewer cases of rape in the South because women there dress more "decently" and are more religious.
