Congress leader and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday reacted to former BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri’s controversial reference to her cheeks as ridiculous. She said that important issues should be discussed during the Delhi assembly elections instead of such irrelevant matters.

The Wayanad MP added that the BJP candidate from the Kalkaji assembly did not speak about his own cheeks. She made these remarks after attending a parliamentary panel meeting. Terming the BJP leader’s remark as ridiculous, Priyanka Gandhi said that all these remarks are irrelevant. She further mentioned that elections are taking place in Delhi, and important issues should be discussed.

Last week, BJP leader Ramesh Bidhuri sparked a massive controversy for his remark in which he reportedly said that he would make the roads of the assembly seat area as smooth as Priyanka Gandhi’s cheeks. His remarks drew flak from opposition leaders, who described his comments as distasteful and sexist.

Taking to X, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate said that the BJP leader’s remarks were reflective of his ugly mindset towards women. She alleged that BJP is extremely anti-women, adding that Ramesh Bidhuri’s statement regarding Priyanka Gandhi is not only shameful but also shows his disgusting mentality towards women. But what else can be expected from a man who abused his fellow MP in the House and did not get any punishment, she continued.

Furthermore, Mahila Congress president Alka Lamba also lambasted the BJP leader and accused him of insulting women once again in his usual indecent language.

Later, former BJP MP Bidhuri expressed regret over his remarks and issued a clarification. He also defended himself saying that such remarks have been made in the past as well. He pointed out that RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, an ally of the Congress, for his similar remarks on BJP MP Hema Malini, alleging that the grand old party is now making an issue of it.

He added that he respects women and takes his words back if they have hurt someone but he thinks Congress and AAP should also introspect.

The family of the victim in the 2013 rape case against Asaram Bapu has been given additional security measures, following the Supreme Court’s decision to grant Asaram interim bail on medical grounds, said police on Wednesday.

Additional Superintendent of Police (City) Sanjay Kumar Sagar stated that he personally visited the victim’s home after the Supreme Court’s ruling and spoke with the family. “A police guard has already been stationed at the victim’s residence, and her father is provided with a gunner for additional security. We are now assigning more police personnel and have issued necessary instructions to the local police station and circle officer to ensure the family’s protection,” Sagar explained.

He also noted, “Orders have been issued to repair the non-functional CCTV cameras around the victim’s home, and her father has been advised to notify the authorities before leaving the premises. We are closely monitoring the family’s safety, given the high-profile nature of this case.”

The victim’s father expressed his shock at the news of Asaram’s interim bail, stating, “I haven’t been able to sleep since hearing this; I am immensely worried about my family’s safety. Even while in prison, Asaram was allegedly responsible for the murders of four witnesses — Rajkot’s Amrut Prajapati, Akhil Gupta (a cook), Lucknow’s Rahul Sachan, and Shahjahanpur’s Kripal Singh.”

He accused Asaram of orchestrating false cases against him in various locations, including Jammu, Jodhpur, Delhi, and Surasagar, while still incarcerated. “Two of my witnesses, Bholanand and Sureshanand, are currently missing. The government claims that laws exist to ensure capital punishment for crimes against minors, yet the court continues to show leniency in Asaram’s case,” he added.

Asaram, who is currently serving a life sentence for sexual assault, was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court until March 31, 2025, under specific conditions. His past privileges include a 7-day parole in 2018, which was later extended by an additional five days, and a more recent 17-day parole granted on December 10, 2024.

In 2013, Asaram was convicted of sexually assaulting a minor from Shahjahanpur at his ashram in Jodhpur, following a case filed by the victim’s father in Delhi, which ultimately led to Asaram receiving a life sentence.

Shantanu Deshpande, CEO of Bombay Shaving Company, sparked widespread discussion with a recent LinkedIn post where he claimed that the majority of Indian employees are dissatisfied with their jobs and would likely opt out of work altogether if their financial security were assured.

Deshpande remarked, “One of the tragic and late realizations I’ve had is—most people don’t like their jobs. If everyone in India was given sustenance money and financial security their current jobs provide, 99 percent wouldn’t show up to work the next day.”

He elaborated that this sentiment spans across various sectors, from blue-collar workers and government employees to gig workers and employees of so-called “fun and employee-friendly startups” like his own company, Bombay Shaving Company. Deshpande acknowledged that the motivation to work is predominantly tied to the paycheck, describing it as a “dangling carrot” that has been an accepted norm for centuries.

“To usurp someone away from their homes and families all day, sometimes for days and weeks, with the dangling carrot of a paycheck—it’s assumed acceptable because it has been the way nations were built over 250+ years,” Deshpande wrote.

Highlighting wealth disparity

The CEO also addressed the stark economic inequality in India, noting that a small number of families control a significant portion of the country’s wealth. While he did not provide exact figures, Deshpande emphasized that these families contribute less than 1.8% of the nation’s taxes.

He used the post to reflect on the structural inequalities of the workplace and urged those in privileged positions to act with generosity. “If you have resources, be kind and generous, and help lift as many people up as possible,” he concluded.

Mixed Reactions

Deshpande’s comments have elicited mixed reactions on social media, with some agreeing with his assessment of work culture and economic disparity, while others criticized his generalization and approach. His post continues to fuel debate about employee satisfaction, wealth distribution, and the broader state of work-life balance in India.