Giriraj Singh apologises for racist remarks on Sonia Gandhi, says comments meant to be ‘off the record’

New Delhi: The controversial BJP leader and Union Minister Giriraj Singh, who is known to be a serial offender in contentious statements, apologised on Wednesday for his racist and sexist remarks on Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Singh said that his comments were meant to be "off the record."

As his remarks snowballed into a major controversy, Singh said if his comments have hurt Gandhis, he regret for the same. "If Soniaji and Rahulji have been hurt by my remarks, I express my regret," he said even as he maintained that his remarks were "off the record" and suggested that media was blowing it out of proportion.

Singh hit a new low with his shameful remark as he said that it was the colour of Sonia Gandhi's skin that made her the Congress president. "Had Rajiv Gandhi married a Nigerian woman and if she was not a white-skinned woman, would the Congress have then accepted her leadership?" he told journalists on Tuesday.

Various women leaders also attacked Singh, who is minister of state for micro, small and medium enterprises, saying it reflected his racial mindset and attitude towards women.

The Minister, who had courted controversies in the past with remarks during Lok Sabha elections like people opposed to Narendra Modi can go to Pakistan, also mocked Rahul Gandhi's absence from the political scene and likened it to the "missing Malaysian airliner". 

"Imagine a situation, if Congress was in power instead of us and had Rahul been the Prime Minister, and if for some reason, the PM had disappeared for more than 47 days.”

"Absence of Congress Vice President is similar to that of the missing Malaysian airliner that still has not been located. The same way the Congress leader was not present in the budget session. No one in Congress is ready to speak. This is unfortunate for the Congress and a joke for the country," he said.

Despite his apology, a furious Congress was unrelenting in its attack. An AICC statement said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi must dismiss such a minister and apologise to the nation.

The statement, issued by Randeep Singh Surjewala, Incharge Communications of AICC, said the party "strongly deprecates and condemns the intemperate and distasteful remarks...bordering on insanity". "It appears that continuous quest to appease Prime Minister has made him lose his balance. Such remarks are reflective of lack of moral fibre in BJP and its cadre," the party said.

"I think Prime Minister Narendra Modi has kept him in the cabinet only to make such statements and probably BJP does not have a better leader for Bihar," senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said.

Another Congress leader Manish Tewari said it was for Modi to reflect as to what kind of "elements and bizarre creatures" are there in his government. Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, said Singh's comments were "shameful". "Such people have been kept by Modiji in his government," he said.

Senior CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat questioned the Prime Minister's "silence" and wondered how, under his leadership, the "worst" kind of statements were being made. "These are the kind of leaders, whether it's the Goa Chief Minister or Giriraj Singh, who are being trained and promoted by Narendra Modi," she said.

BJP leader Kiran Bedi said that an instance like this "does" distract from Modi's developmental agenda, but stressed, "I am sure it is a matter of concern for the Prime Minister. How he deals with it, let's leave it to him."

All India Progressive Women's Association (AIPWA) secretary Kavita Krishnan said the comment was "deeply misogynist and patriarchal".

"Giriraj Singh is a minister and, like many of his predecessors in order to put down a woman politically, he has commented on her colour and looks. Why are you afraid of dealing with women as political opponents in political terms?" she asked.

Singh was forced to express his regrets after a call from BJP President Amit Shah who made it clear to him that "such language" was not acceptable.

Party sources said Shah called Singh over telephone and made it clear in no uncertain terms that it was unbecoming of a minister to use such a language.

However, a party leader said Congress leaders have been using abusive language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and none of them, including Congress President Sonia Gandhi, have apologised ever.

He said the BJP respects everyone and does not accept foul language against others.