“If they [Pakistan] consider Kulbhushan Jadhav a terrorist in their country, then they will treat him that way. We should treat terrorists in our country the same way,” is an odd statement when you consider that it was uttered by a member of the BJP, which is in power at the Centre. Of course, Naresh Agarwal has not always been a part of the ruling party.

Politicians and political parties in India do not share the most loyal of relationships. Because when they get snubbed by an outfit, they choose to leave. And it doesn’t matter what their ideological belief is, a different political party is always prepared to absorb them. In similar fashion, Agarwal, a former senior member of the Samajwadi Party and Rajya Sabha, broke up with his party and chose to begin a new relationship with BJP on March 12. In fact, His son Nitin Agarwal, too, joined the BJP. Why? Agarwal, a seven-time MLA from Hardoi constituency, was snubbed in favour of Jaya Bachchan, also an SP leader, for renomination to the upper house of the Parliament in the upcoming elections.

Of course, Agarwal’s entry into the ruling party is a questionable move. While as a seasoned UP politician the senior leader is an asset, he comes at a massive cost: He has a habit of making controversial statements — most almost as bad as the latest about Kulbhushan Jadhav.

In fact, on the issue of SP giving preference to Jaya Bachchan over him, Agarwal said, "My comparison was drawn with those working in films... I was rejected for those who dance in films, work in films.” His comment has drawn flak especially from the Right.

Shri Naresh Agarwal has joined Bhartiya Janata Party. He is welcome. However, his comments regarding Jaya Bachhan ji are improper and unacceptable. — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) March 12, 2018

As much as I admire PM Modi is as much as I hate BJP’s duplicity & growing mediocrity. Look at the crass comments, Naresh Agarwal made about Mrs. Bachchan with regards to her profession at the time of his exit from SP, how is he better than those Congressmen who targeted Smriti? — Sonam Mahajan (@AsYouNotWish) March 12, 2018

What a ridiculous decision to allow Naresh Agarwal to join the party. The uncouth man doesn’t deserve to be a part of BJP. — Nupur (@UnSubtleDesi) March 12, 2018

Sadly, this is just the tip of the misogynistic iceberg when it comes to this “esteemed” politician.

In January, when the Triple Talaq Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha, Agarwal said that he did not believe the women present in Rajya Sabha were Muslims; that they could well be women from Bharatiya Janata Party’s Mahila Morcha. And who can forget he is the same politician who had commented on the Lakhimpur gang-rape in Assam in 2013, saying that the media was unnecessarily hyping the issue: “Such things happen on a daily basis. I have read about them in Delhi as well. I understand why the media sometimes focuses on one rape but almost ignore other rapes.”

When former editor-in-chief of Tehelka magazine Tarun Tejpal was accused of sexual assault by a colleague, Agarwal notoriously observed: “A lot of top officials are now scared of having female assistants/colleagues.”

At this point, it should come as no surprise that this man had also once said, “Death penalty is debatable. Every country is banning it, why shouldn't we?” Yes, death penalty is despicable, but Agarwal made the statement in context of the death sentences handed out to the three men who were found guilty of gang-raping a photo-journalist and a telephone operator, at different times at the abandoned Shakti Mills in Mumbai. He also found it prudent to say, “Women also need to pay attention to their clothing to avoid being raped and should not be influenced by the media.”

Photo: DailyO

In 2013, Agarwal was the cause of another controversy, when he mocked the BJP trying to appeal to other secular parties for an alliance: "In my village there is a saying that if you ask a **** (a word for widows, used in a derogatory manner) for blessings, she will ask you to become like her. Similarly, the BJP is asking everyone to become like them."

But perhaps where the BJP should have seen the red flag — there are plenty, but this is one closest to the saffron party’s heart — is when Agarwal made a rather scandalous comment in Parliament: “Vishnu resides in whiskey, Ram in rum, Mata Janki in gin and Hanuman in 'tharra'.”

In fact, BJP members have been very liberal in their criticism of Agarwal; to the extent when last year nearly two dozen members of BJP's youth wing marched at Agarwal's Tughlak Land bungalow, shouted slogans against him and the Samajwadi Party, and smeared ink on his nameplate.

Naresh Agarwal of the Samajwadi Party comes across as Pakistan’s spokesperson which is no different from Rahul Gandhi questioning and demanding proof for surgical strikes... With UPA around does India need enemies? — Amit Malviya (@malviyamit) December 27, 2017

Shameless Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agarwal openly abusing Hindu gods in Parliament. pic.twitter.com/TeYe14DHbr — Priti Gandhi (@MrsGandhi) July 19, 2017

So why is BJP banking on a man who is not only extraordinarily crass and misogynistic, but has also “insulted” Hindu gods and made casteist remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi? Is his political influence in Hardoi worth the backlash they seem to be receiving, even from their own supporters and party members? Clearly, the ruling party needs to evaluate some of its priorities.

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