New Delhi : Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Agrawal today created a furore in the BJP minutes after joining it with comments belittling actor-politician Jaya Bachchan as someone "who used to dance in films", remarks dubbed "unacceptable" by party leader Sushma Swaraj.
Agrawal, who lost out to Bachchan in the race for re-nomination to the upper house, today quit the Samajwadi Party and joined the BJP. "I have been reduced to somebody working in films. For somebody who used to dance in films, act in films, I was denied a ticket (for Rajya Sabha). I did not find it appropriate," Agrawal said while joining the BJP at its headquarters.
He was flanked by several BJP leaders, including Union minister Piyush Goyal, who welcomed him into the party. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra distanced his party from Agrawals remarks, saying it respects people from all fields and welcomed them in politics.
A couple of hours later, senior BJP leader and its most prominent woman face Sushma Swaraj took to Twitter to criticise Agrawals comments. "Naresh Agrawal has joined Bhartiya Janata Party. He is welcome. However, his comments regarding Jaya Bachhan ji are improper and unacceptable," the external affairs minister tweeted. PTI
