Mumbai, Oct 26: BJP leader Vasantrao Deshmukh allegedly made a derogatory remark against Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat's daughter, drawing flak from leaders of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi.

The saffron party has also condemned the remark, with Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule calling for action against Deshmukh.

State Congress chief Nana Patole said the filthy language used against Jayshree Thorat reflects the BJP's twisted mentality toward their so-called 'laadki bahin'.

Deshmukh, a long-time opponent of the Thorats, made the alleged remark at a programme organised by BJP leader Sujay Vikhe Patil at Sangamner in Ahilyanagar district on Friday.

Tensions erupted in the Sangamner as Congress workers and Thorat supporters protested by tearing down banners of Vikhe Patil.

Jayashree Thorat, a doctor by profession, has been campaigning for her father, who is seeking re-election from the Sangamner constituency for the ninth time.

Talking to reporters, Jayshree Thorat said, "What have I done that I am being spoken about in such a shameful manner? I have been campaigning for my father by organising youth conclaves in the constituency. Even if people who have spoken about me are opponents, there should be a standard for criticism."

When asked about the developments, Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat, who is in Mumbai, said his daughter was capable of handling the situation in Sangamner.

"My workers assured me that they will take care of Sangamner as the party had given me the responsibility of the state, and I should devote my time to it," he said.

He accused Vikhe Patil of being the brain behind Deshmukh's derogatory comments.

NCP (SP) state president Jayant Patil condemned the BJP and Deshmukh, claiming that the remarks have exposed the saffron party's real face about women.

"On one hand, they speak of 'laadki bahin', and on the other hand, they use derogatory language against women," he said, warning that women will respond to such comments using the ballot box.

Sharing a video of Deshmukh's comments on 'X', Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray wrote, "Shameful! This is BJP's politics.. Should it be accepted?"

Maharashtra BJP president Bawankule said the party disapproved of the remark, and strict action would be taken against Deshmukh.

"The police should take appropriate steps. Jayshree is like our daughter even though we have political differences with her father," he said, adding that the party will not tolerate such insults and will take action.

Bawankule claimed Congress workers took advantage of the situation and attacked Sujay Vikhe Patil, who had nothing to do with the comments.

State Congress chief Patole said the ECI should also take note of the remarks and take action against Deshmukh and Vikhe Patil.

"Everyone has heard the real mentality of the BJP alliance, which claims to offer Rs 1,500 for votes in the name of the Ladki Bahin scheme. The language used by Deshmukh reflects the BJP's real attitude towards women," Patole said.

He claimed, "During the programme in Sangamner, Vikhe Patil's follower threatened that 'during the election, once we step into the battlefield, your daughter will not be able to step out of the house'. Vikhe Patil was present on the dias at the time. Only people from the BJP can use such language about women. This is their culture, as demonstrated by leaders ranging from Brij Bhushan to lower-level party workers."

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New Delhi, Oct 26: The AAP on Saturday alleged the BJP was conspiring to "kill" its convener Arvind Kejriwal and had become "an enemy of his life". The ruling party warned that the BJP would be responsible if anything happened to the former chief minister.

Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta dismissed the AAP's allegations, saying it was yet another "drama" by the AAP to defame the BJP ahead of the assembly polls.

The AAP had on Friday claimed that Kejriwal, a Z-plus protectee, was attacked by "BJP goons" during his 'padyatra' (foot march) in west Delhi's Vikaspuri, a charge trashed by the saffron party.

However, no video of the alleged attack was made available by the party. Police said they had not received any official complaint from the AAP.

Addressing a press conference on Saturday, AAP MP Sanjay Singh alleged police were complicit in the incident.

"Police complicity in the incident clearly shows a deep-rooted conspiracy to kill Kejriwal. The BJP has become an enemy of his life," he said.

There was no immediate response from police to the Rajya Sabha MP's claim.

Singh said that despite Friday's incident, Kejriwal would carry on with the 'padyatra' as scheduled.

AAP leaders including Kejriwal are undertaking 'padyatras' in different assembly segments of the city in the run-up to the Delhi Assembly polls, likely to be held in February 2025.

Asked why the AAP had not filed a complaint regarding the alleged attack on Kejriwal, Singh said police could take cognisance of the incident and launch a probe.

It would not have happened if police were impartial. Police officers did not do anything to stop the "attackers" who belonged to the BJP's youth wing, he claimed, adding the AAP was seeking legal opinion on the matter.

He also accused BJP leaders of supporting the "attackers".

Singh said Kejriwal would "neither stop nor bow down" and continue to fight for the people of Delhi.

If anything happens to Kejriwal, then the BJP would be responsible for it. Even if Kejriwal suffers a scratch, Delhi's people would take revenge on the BJP, he said.

At another press conference, Delhi cabinet minister Saurabh Bharadwaj claimed one of the attackers was the vice president of the BJP's Delhi Yuva Morcha.

"BJP Yuva Morcha functionaries attacked Kejriwal. One of the attackers is the vice president of BJP Yuva Morcha of Delhi and the second is the general secretary," he said.

The two BJP leaders, who were dancing after attacking Kejriwal, had lost the councillor elections, claimed Bharadwaj.

BJP leader Gupta rubbished the AAP's claims.

"Despite blaming the BJP, no complaint has been filed by the AAP over the alleged attack on Kejriwal, which shows that the party is trying to play the victim card and gain sympathy by trying to defame the BJP before the assembly polls," he said.

The BJP leader said the AAP is worried about the "waning public support" and is attempting to confuse people through such tactics.

The area where Kejriwal was allegedly attacked is not an AAP stronghold and hence, the party "concocted" the story to gain sympathy, Gupta alleged.