Naresh Agarwal's remark against Jaya Bachchan 'shameful', shows BJP leader's mindset, says Harsimrat Kaur Badal

New Delhi: Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Tuesday slammed Rajya Sabha member Naresh Agrawal, who started off his new innings in the BJP with a controversial remark by referring to actress and politician Jaya Bachchan as a “mere film dancer”.

“The statement he has given is very shameful. It needs to be condemned,” the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader told reporters in the Parliament House complex here.

The SAD is one of the oldest allies of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

She said the remarks show Agrawal’s mindset and hoped that Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu will take a call on it.

“When an elected representative speaks such language, it shows his mindset. It sends a wrong message to the young generation,” she said.

Asked about action against Agrawal, Badal said: “He himself should feel ashamed. I have faith in Venkaiah Naidu. He respects women a lot and will do the needful.”

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also conveyed her disapproval of the remarks in a tweet.

“Shri Naresh Agrawal has joined BJP. He is welcome. However, his comments regarding Jaya Bachchan are improper and unacceptable,” she tweeted.

On Monday, Agrawal said the Samajwadi Party had refused him a Rajya Sabha berth and gave it to a person just because she “could dance and act in the films”.

“My stature has been equated with that of a mere film actress. Just because she could dance and act in films, my candidature (to Rajya Sabha) has been sacrificed for her. I haven’t taken it kindly.”

Agrawal’s term in the Rajya Sabha is ending next month and he had expected a re-election to the upper House. But his hopes were dashed when the party chose Bachchan to be its candidate.