Sadhana Singh issues apology after abusing Mayawati, says only intention was to remind BSP of BJP support in 1995

BJP MLA Sadhana Singh, who on Saturday lashed out at BSP supremo Mayawati, calling her "worse than a eunuch" , on Sunday evening issued an apology for her statement. In her letter, she said she was only hoping to reiterate the support that BJP gave to BSP in the 1995 guest house incident, and did not mean to disrespect anyone. She further expressed regret if her statement was offensive to anyone.

BJP MLA Sadhna Singh on her statement on BSP chief Mayawati: I had no intentions of disrespecting anyone, I express regret if someone was hurt by my words. pic.twitter.com/k4PRoaSpS4

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) January 20, 2019

Addressing a rally, Sadhana, a member of Uttar Pradesh’s 17th Legislative Assembly, had said: “I don’t think Uttar Pradesh’s former chief minister is a woman or a man. She doesn’t understand the concept of dignity. Draupadi was a victim of sexual misconduct. She vowed to get revenge. That was a self-respecting woman. Look at this woman. Everything was looted from her, despite which she sold all her dignity to get power.” Without directly referring to the 1995 guest house incident, where Mayawati — along with several other BSP leaders — was attacked by Samajwadi Party workers, Singh said that a woman who underwent a “chirharan (disrobe)” is now compromising with the perpetrators. She added, “She is worse than a eunuch.” Singh’s apology comes after she reportedly refused to do so. Earlier on Sunday,  CNN-News18 quoted her as saying: “I don’t regret my statement. A woman who is unable to protect her own dignity is a blot on womankind. She forgot her disrespect for political gains. It’s not only about her but the entire womenfolk, which has been let down.” The BJP leader’s comments garnered heavy criticism, with BSP leader Satish Chandra Mishra calling Singh “mentally ill”. Mishra further said the SP-BSP alliance has rattled the BJP leaders and that they have lost their mental balance. “The language used by BJP leader Sadhana Singh against our party president shows the level of the BJP. This shows the BJP is disappointed and frustrated with the SP-BSP alliance. They have no strength to win even a single seat in Uttar Pradesh. The level of language shows their mental illness. Such people should be admitted to the mental hospital of Agra or Bareli. The people of this country this time will show BJP its real place. They have lost their mental balance in fear of losing the election in the state,” Mishra was quoted by ANI as saying. BSP’s newfound ally, the Samajwadi Party, also condemned the statement. “The kind of words used for Mayawati by BJP’s woman MLA from Mughalsarai is highly objectionable. I condemn the statement. BJP has become completely bankrupt when it comes to morals. They are just frustrated. The statement is an insult to the women of the country,” party chief Akhilesh Yadav said on Saturday.