Pranab's son calls anti-rape protesters 'dented-painted', withdraws words

New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee's son and Congress's sitting MP from Jangipur Abhijit Mukherjee has made a sexist comment that has already created a political storm and is bound to embarrass his father. Pranab Mukherjee's son said it's fashionable to attend protest march now, while he was speaking at an event in West Bengal.

Abhijit Mukherjee said that dented and painted women protesters in Delhi went to discotheques and then turned up at India Gate to express outrage over the gangrape in Delhi. He also said that they were not in touch with ground realities.

"What's basically happening in Delhi is a lot like Egypt or elsewhere, where there's something called the spring revolution, which has very little connection with ground realities. In India, staging candle-lit marches, going to discotheques - we did all this during our student life too, we were students too - I know every well what kind of character students should have. Those who claim to be students - I can see many beautiful women among them - highly dented-painted (sic) - they're giving interviews on TV, they've brought their children to show them the scenes. I have grave doubts whether they're students, because women of that age are generally not students," Abhijit Mukherjee said.

Abhijit Mukherjee said dented and painted women protesters in Delhi went to discotheques and then turned up at India Gate to express outrage.

However, after being repeatedly questioned by CNN-IBN Deputy Editor Sagarika Ghose, Abhijit Mukherjee agreed to withdraw the 'dented-painted' sentence and apologised.

"I withdraw the particular sentence 'dented and painted' women. I have no intention to insult any woman," he said while speaking to CNN-IBN Deputy Editor Sagarika Ghose.

This comes amidst protests in Delhi against the brutal gangrape of a 23-year-old medical student in a moving bus in Delhi. The protests at India Gate turned violent on Sunday and the police lathicharged protesters and fired water cannons and tear gas shells on them.

Water cannons and tear gas shells were also used on Saturday when protesters tried to enter the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

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