RANCHI: Sample this conversation:
Caller: Irfan Bhaiya namaskar, Jai Shri Ram, bhaiya, how are you? Irfan Ansari: Jai Shri Ram, I am good.
Caller: Bhaiya, you made everyone happy by promising that you will make roads smoother than actor Kangana Ranaut’s cheeks. Irfan Ansari: Laughs aloud...
Caller: But you know something, bhaiya? If you make the roads smoother than Bhauji’s (sister-in-law) cheeks, it would have been way better. Irfan Ansari: Who’s Bhauji?
Caller: Means ... (hesitates a bit) ...your madam, our Bhauji... Irfan Ansari: Ok, ok, will make, Jai Shri Ram. (Cuts the call)
After realising what the caller was trying to mean, the MLA dialled back the number and heaped abuses, threats and insults for “disrespecting” his wife, until it dawned upon him that this call, too, was being recorded. Interestingly, two days after Ansari landed in a controversy for a sexist remark on Ranaut, he finds himself in another one on Sunday for two reasons — that he could not digest any comment passed on his wife, notwithstanding the similar act that he had done, and that he can go to any lengths, including issuing of threats, to those who did it.
The caller, who identified himself as Mahavir Singh and functionary of BJP from Ranchi, uploaded both the conversations on his Facebook page, criticising Congress, Ansari and commented that he who feels uneasy for the “disrespect” shown to his mother, sister or sisters-in-law should first think several times before disrespecting other women.
In a self-made video two days ago, the Congress MLA had announced the sanctioning of 14 new road projects in his constituency while accusing the previous BJP government of doing nothing to improve the road conditions in Jamtara. He also added “insult” with a remark that the proposed roads will be smoother than the cheeks of Ranaut. Later, he profusely reiterated that he meant no disrespect to anyone, including Ranaut.
Congress immediately distanced itself from Ansari’s comments, terming them as “distasteful” and stressed that the party always stands for women empowerment. The grand old party also cited how it has decided to field 40% women candidates in the ensuing Utter Pradesh election to drive home its point.
While Ansari didn’t take calls from TOI for his comments on the development, Singh responded by saying that someone had to show the MLA the mirror, who often speaks “callously and irresponsibly” to hog the media limelight.
Singh, who said he is BJP’s Jamtara district in-charge, added, “Top Congress leaders often talk about women empowerment but it should be shameful for having such an MLA and lower-rung leaders that keep on criticising women. He (Ansari) laughs aloud while talking about other women but was furious when the turn of his own family comes. My whole intention of calling him is to show him the mirror and expose him in public.”
