The President's son takes a dig at 'dented and painted' anti-rape protesters

Abhijeet Mukherjee, Indian National Congress MP from Jangipur has hit back at the protesters

President Pranab Mukherjee's son and Congress's sitting MP from Jangipur, Abhijit Mukherjee invited widespread condemnation on Thursday by calling anti-rape women protesters at India Gate "highly dented and painted", triggering angry backlash from all quarters.

"I would term the protests in Delhi as what is popularly known as Pink Revolution. It is becoming fashionable to land up on the streets with candle in hand. Such people are completely disconnected from reality.

They go to discotheques. I am very well versed with student activism and I can bet on it that most of the protesters are not students.

They are dented and painted women chasing two minutes on fame, giving interviews on TV. The protesters do not fall in the age group of students," Abhijit told a vernacular news channel in Kolkata.



Among the most vocal critics was his own sister Sharmishtha, who described his comments as a bit of a shocker and said her father also disapproved of them.



"It is something that we as a family definitely don't agree with. It's not just one protest, it's accumulated rage over the way women are being treated, raped, molested... my father is absolutely with me on this." "He is also ashmed of this outrageous remark," sources say Sharmishtha said this at the behest of the President himself.

"I apologise to every woman, man and every sensitive person in this country... I am utterly shocked and only thing I can say is that I really apologise on his behalf... I am quite surprised at what my brother said, Sharm-istha added. Asked whether Abhijit should apologise for his words, she said, "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. Forget about being a political leader, it shows a certain degree of insensitivity... My family is not like that, "she said.



The principal Opposition part BJP said, Abhijit's remarks were particularly illtimed as the 23-yearold victim of the December 16 gang rape is fighting for her life at a hospital in Singapore. "I think this is exactly the kind of mindset that the youth is fighting against, said Smriti Irani, head of the BJP's women's wing.



Protesters shout slogans and make gestures at India Gate

CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat said political leaders cannot be allowed to get away with a mere apology after making such outrageous and highly condemnable remarks demeaning women and there should be a code of conduct for elected representatives.



After drawing flak for the controversial sexiest remark, Abhijit speaking to a television channel said, he is willing to resign if the Congress wants him to.



He agreed that his remarks have generated a "huge controversy" and that he now "withdraws his remarks completely." "My father and sister have been hurt and I apologise to both of them. My intention was not to hurt anyone, he said.

"I apologise to all those people whose sentiments were hurt," Abhijit added.



