Odisha BJP MLA apologises for remark against Muslim women

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) deputy leader in Odisha Assembly Bishnu Charan Sethi on Friday expressed regret over his controversial remark against Muslim women.

Stating that statement made on Thursday was not intended to hurt religious sentiments, Sethi requested Speaker Surya Narayan Patro to expunge his statement from the Assembly proceedings.

Later, Patro expunged the objectionable part of the statement from the House records. The Speaker also directed the media to not to publish the expunged statement.

"The objectionable part has been expunged. Media cannot report it. However, they may report on Sethi's apology and my order to expunge it," said Patro.

While speaking in favour of the Triple Talaq bill on Thursday, Sethi, while quoting survey reports, had made a controversial statement against the victims of Triple Talaq.

The House was repeatedly adjourned as the Congress and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) opposed the remark on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Bhadrak district Congress on Friday took to the streets demanding an apology from the legislator.

The Congress workers took out a protest rally and later staged a demonstration in front of the district collector office. IANS