Delhi protesters ‘dented, painted’: President’s son

PRESIDENT Pranab Mukherjee's son Abhijit stoked a major controversy on Thursday as he described women participating in the Delhi protests as "highly dented and painted", triggering an angry backlash.

"Those who are coming in the name of students in the rallies, sundori, sundori mahila (beautiful women), highly dented and painted," Abhijit Mukherjee, MP from Jangipur, told a regional news channel.

"Giving interviews in TV and showing off their children. I wonder whether they are students at all," he said, adding that "what's basically happening in Delhi is something like pink revolution, which has very little connection with ground realities."

As his "insensitive" remarks sparked outrage, with even his sister Sharmistha expressing "utter shock and anguish" and apologising on his behalf, Mukherjee "withdrew" his comments and said they were not meant to hurt "any particular section or any particular sentiment".

"I express my utter shock and anguish. I really apologise to every woman, man and every sensitive person in this country... I am utterly shocked and the only thing I can say is that I really apologise on his behalf... I am quite surprised with what my brother said," Sharmistha said.

Asked whether Mukherjee should apologise for his words, she said, "I completely agree. He should immediately apologise... Not only as a President's son, but as any sensitive man, he should not have made this kind of statement... it shows a certain degree of insensitivity... My family is not like that."

On whether the President would be embarrassed with the remarks, Sharmistha said, "I am sure he will be. I can say that he also shares my view."

Soon after, Mukherjee said, "I apologise to all the people whose sentiments who got hurt because of these sentences and these sentences are withdrawn".

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