Gadkari regrets 'dog' remark, Lalu and SP unforgiving

BJP president Nitin Gadkari Thursday expressed regret for his remarks likening Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and Rashtriya Janata Dal's (RJD) Lalu Prasad to "dogs who lick the feet of the Congress and its president Sonia (Gandhi)", but the outraged parties were unimpressed.

"I regret the comment made yesterday (Wednesday) and take back my words. I have a lot of respect for Mulayam Singh Yadav and Lalu Prasad," Gadkari said at a press conference at the Chandigarh Press Club. "The comment created a wrong impression."

"Meri baat ki bhavna alag thi (The essence of my comment was different). I did not want to hurt anyone," the Bharatiya Janata Party chief added.

Gadkari Wednesday night accused Mulayam Singh and Lalu Prasad of betraying the opposition on the recent cut motions in parliament.

"Bade dakarte the sher jaise, aur kutte ke jaise ban kar Sonia-ji aur Congress ke ghar par talve chatne lage (These leaders were roaring like lions but later bowed like dogs to lick the feet of Sonia and the Congress)," he told a rally.

An outraged Lalu Prasad said in Patna Thursday that he refused to accept Gadkari's retraction. He said firmly that he doesn't believe in apologies and would teach the opposition leader a lesson in decency.

"Gadkari needlessly used shameful words. Called us dogs who lick feet. Previous BJP chiefs, including L.K. Advani, would have never used such shameful words even as they severely criticised us. We are taking it seriously," an unforgiving Lalu Prasad told reporters.

"We don't believe in apologies and words being taken back. We will teach him a lesson in decency. We too have phrases but we won't use them," Lalu Prasad said.

In New Delhi, the SP said it would file a case of caste discrimination against Gadkari.

"His remarks reflect caste discrimination. We will take legal opinion and file a case against him," said SP spokesperson Mohan Singh.

Referring to Gadkari's expression of regret, he said the BJP leader should also apologise to crores of Dalits and people of backward classes and minorities.

RJD and SP leaders have sought Gadkari's resignation.

A handful of RJD workers gathered outside the Chandigarh Press Club and shouted slogans against Gadkari and the BJP as the leader left the venue after the meet-the-press programme in a cavalcade of cars.

Beyond the regret, the BJP president refused to say anything more.

"I have already said what I wanted to. I don't want to add anything more to it," Gadkari told reporters in Chandigarh.