Noida, Mar 19 (PTI): Union culture minister and BJP MP Mahesh Sharma referred to Congress president Rahul Gandhi as “Pappu” and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as “Pappu ki Pappi” during a poll campaign in Gautam Buddh Nagar, drawing flak from the Opposition party which termed his remarks condemnable.

A purported video of Mr Sharma’s controversial speech in his parliamentary constituency’s Sikandrabad area is circulating on social media in which he can be seen slamming not only Gandhi family politicians, but also other regional leaders including BSP supremo Mayawati, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee and SP president Akhilesh Yadav.

“Pappu kehta hai main Prime Minister banunga… Mayawati, Akhilesh Yadav, Pappu.. Aur ab ‘Pappu ki Pappi’ bhi aa gayi hai. Wo Priyanka kya pehle hamare desh ki beti nahi thi kya, Congress ki beti nahi thi kya, aage nahi rahegi kya? kya naya leke aayi hai? (Pappu says he wants to become prime minister. Mayawati, Akhilesh Yadav, Pappu... And now ‘Pappu’s Pappi’ has also arrived! Wasn’t Priyanka already a daughter of this nation, a daughter of the Congress. And would she not remain so in future? What new has she brought in?),” he told a crowd of his supporters during his speech delivered on March 16.

Congress national secretary and UP-West co-incharge Dheeraj Gurjar slammed the minister for his remarks. “As are his thoughts, so are his words. Being on such a responsible post, Sharma ji has made such a remark against a woman! It is condemnable,” Gurjar told PTI.