The BJP in Delhi criticised AAP MLA Naresh Balyan for his sexist remarks about actor-turned-politician Hema Malini during a live Facebook session. In a video circulating on social media, Balyan is heard saying he will "make Uttam Nagar’s roads as smooth as Hema Malini's cheeks." Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor condemned the comment, saying it disrespects women and insults the local community.
In a video clip that surfaced on social media, the AAP MLA can be heard saying, “All works will be completed swiftly by the 35th of the month, will make Uttam Nagar's roads like Hema Malini's cheeks."
Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor charged that Balyan has not only disrespected women but has also humiliated the people of the area by saying that roads will be repaired by the "35th" of the month.
BJP has demanded that AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal should expel the legislator for disrespecting women.
The remark sparked widespread backlash, with AAP’s own MLA Swati Maliwal and former National Commission for Women (NCW) chief Rekha Sharma condemning Balyan's statement as "misogynistic" and calling for strict action against him.
Swati Maliwal said, “Delhi's Uttam Nagar MLA Naresh Balyan says that ‘we will make the roads like Hema Malini's cheeks’! No amount of condemnation of this anti-women statement is enough. This man has been sleeping for the entire ten years due to which the roads of Uttam Nagar are in a dilapidated condition! Such a cheap thinking that considers women as objects has no place in the society. Arvind Kejriwal ji is appealed to take immediate action against this person with anti-women thinking”.
Adding her voice to the criticism, former National Commission for Women (NCW) chief Rekha Sharma also denounced Balyan’s remarks, describing them as part of a recurring pattern of sexist comments from political leaders.
“It is very unfortunate that leaders, especially those from the INDI bloc, are giving misogynistic and sexist remarks in different parts of the country,” she said, referring to similar comments made in the past by Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Yadav.
Sharma urged AAP to take strict action against Balyan, asserting that “such people should be thrown out of the system.”
