Delhi Vidhan Sabha speaker expunges Bharti's remark

A day after AAP legislator Somnath Bharti's "beautiful women" remark kicked up a controversy, Delhi legislative assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel expunged the word, saying there was a scope for "misinterpretation".

"Vidhan Sabha Speaker Ram Niwas Goel has ordered that the word beautiful be expunged from the proceedings of the house. He said though the remark 'beautiful' is not unparliamentary, it holds scope for misinterpretation," said an official in the assembly.

Talking on the women safety issue during a one-day special session of the Delhi Assembly on Monday, Bharti said: "If law and order situation in Delhi will be handed over to the Delhi government, then beautiful women can walk in the streets of the city even at midnight without any fear."

The remark drew flak from different political parties and activists.

However, reacting to the furore, the former Delhi law minister said, "My remark has been misconstrued totally. Which woman is not beautiful?"