‘Roads In State Will Be Made Like Hema Malini’s Cheeks’: MP Minister Makes Sexist Remarks

Madhya Pradesh (MP) Cabinet Minister PC Sharma, in a controversial statement, said that the roads in the state which were currently like BJP leader “Kailash Vijayvargiya’s cheeks” would be made like Parliamentarian and actor “Hema Malini’s cheeks”, Hindustan Times reported.

His comments were also derogatory to those who have suffered from the disease of smallpox as he compared the potholes on the roads to the marks that the disease left behind on a patient’s skin.

Speaking to reporters during his inspection visit in Bhopal’s Habibganj area, he said, “Roads in Madhya Pradesh were built like that of Washington. What has happened to these roads now? After heavy rain, there are potholes everywhere. Presently, the condition of roads is like stains of smallpox. It seems that the condition of the roads has become like the cheeks of Kailash Vijayvargiya.”

News agency ANI also reported the minister saying that the roads will be repaired within 15 days on Chief Minister Kamal Nath’s orders. And, “Very soon we will make these roads like cheeks of Hema Malini”.

His comments seemed to be a response to the Leader of Opposition in MP Assembly Gopal Bhargava who last week had slammed state’s Congress government on Twitter for the poor condition of roads.

Saying that accidents were taking place due to shabby roads in the state, Bhargava alleged that the government was running away from responsibility by “accusing the Central government of not cooperating on everything”.

However, Minister’s reference to Washington appears to be mocking the old claims of former CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan who, in October 2017, had said that roads in MP were in better condition than those in the United States.