Gidderbaha (Punjab) [India], November 7 : Congress candidate for the Gidderbaha Assembly by-election, Amrita Warring, on Thursday clarified her husband Amarinder Singh Raja Warring's "lipstick" and "bindi" remarks, stating that they were made in a light-hearted manner and such comments are common in both her and her husband's speeches.
Amrita Warring told ANI, "It was said in a joking manner. Such remarks are typical in my and Raja's speeches. This is nothing new. People understand these things, but Bittu is unable to grasp it."
Earlier, Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu criticised Punjab Congress Chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and demanded an apology from him.
"I was watching a speech by Punjab Congress chief (Amarinder Singh) Raja Warring on a channel. I was shocked to hear him...What message is he trying to send to women? He says his wife (Amrita Warring - Congress candidate for the Gidderbaha Assembly by-election) wears 'surkhi-bindi' and leaves home at 6 am, returning at 11 pm. What does this imply? You have used inappropriate language to convey a wrong message. You should apologise to all women. This reflects a petty mindset...You have made a condemnable statement," Bittu said in a self-recorded video.
In response, Amrita Warring criticised Bittu, suggesting his statement revealed his limited perspective.
"This reflects his (Ravneet Bittu's) extremely narrow mindset. I am writing to the Prime Minister and Home Minister to highlight that such a significant position has been given to someone with such a mentality. On one hand, you advocate 33 per cent reservation for women, and on the other, your ministers make such remarks about women. This is shameful," Amrita Warring told ANI.
The Gidderbaha seat, previously won by Amarinder Warring in 2012, 2017, and 2022, became vacant after he won the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Ludhiana.
Notably, the Election Commission has postponed the by-elections in Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, and Punjab from November 13 to November 20.