'Rand' remark: Congress urges political parties to maintain decency, civility

Uttar Pradesh Congress president Rita Bahuguna Joshi on Saturday urged political parties to maintain decency and civility in the lead-up to the 2014 General Elections, after Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Naresh Agarwal sparked off a controversy with his 'rand' remark yesterday.

"I am absolutely against what Naresh Agarwal has said yesterday. To launch a personal attack on a particular person in this kind of way by using indecent language is unacceptable. Political leaders should maintain some balance. Politics should be civilized," Joshi said.

Joshi also said it was not the first time that a politician had used unparliamentary language to launch a personal attack close to elections, and recalled the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) statements in the lead-up to the 2004 and 2009 General Elections in the country.

"It is not the first time, the BJP always launches personal attacks on the Gandhi family-they made the most derogatory remarks on Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi in 2004 and 2009. There should be decency in politics and leaders should have a hold over their statements, especially since elections are nearing," she said.

Earlier today, Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agarwal stood by his controversial statement and asserted that it was used as an idiom to throw light on the Bharatiya Janata Party's trends in the present political climate.

"I have not said anything wrong. I used the idiom as an example. I did not aim my comment on any one person, I said it in reference to the entire BJP. Modi, himself, attacks Mulayam Singh and calls the Prime Minister a chor (thief). He calls our leaders corrupt. So, it is them who are targetting individuals, not us," Agarwal said in his defence.

"I have not used unparliamentary language. I always use parliamentary language. What I have said is correct and I maintain my stand," he added.

Earlier today, National Commission of Women (NCW) chairperson Mamta Sharma said the commission would send a notice to Agarwal to explain his indecent remark about women.

On Friday, while taking a jibe at the Bharatiya Janata Party, Agarwal sparked off a controversy by saying: "Hamaare gaon mein kahawat hai, rand se ashirwad lene jaao, woh kehti hai hamaare tarah ban jaao. Yehi BJP ka haal hai-woh kehte hain, humari tarah ban jao." (There is an idiom used in my village that says when someone goes to take blessings from a 'rand', she asks the person to become like her.