Maharashtra Minister for Water Supply and Sanitation Gulabrao Raghunath Patil sparked a controversy when he compared the roads in his Jalgaon Rural constituency to actor-politician Hema Malini’s cheeks.
While addressing an election meeting for the Bodwad Nagar Panchayat polls in his district in north Maharashtra, Patil asked his opponents to visit his constituency to see how good the quality of roads.
“Those who have been MLAs for 30 years should come to my constituency and see the roads. If they are not like Hema Malini’s cheeks, then I will resign,” he said during the meet.
The statement gained headlines after the chairperson of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women, Rupali Chakankar strongly objected t his remarks and while giving a stern warning of legal action, she asked the minister to a public apology
“The commission has taken note of the comment. If the minister doesn’t tender an apology, he will have to face legal action,” Chakankar said in her statement
Hours after the warning, Patil apologised saying that he “belongs to the Shiv Sena, which idolises Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Party founder Balasaheb Thackeray has taught us to respect women.”
