July 19, 2025 08:32 am (IST)
Follow us:
facebook-white sharing button
twitter-white sharing button
instagram-white sharing button
youtube-white sharing button
Bihar must be protected from malicious intentions of RJD and Congress: PM Modi | 'You deserve to suffer just like me': Over 60 Delhi and Bengaluru schools receive 'hoax' bomb threats | 'We would caution against any double standards': India on NATO's warning over Russia trade sanctions | Karnataka govt blames RCB for Bengaluru stampede, refers to Kohli's online message too | 'Premature and irresponsible': Indian pilots' body slams Air India crash probe report | Bihar CM Nitish Kumar announces free electricity upto 125 units ahead of assembly polls | Air India finds 'no issues' with fuel control switch on Boeing 787-8 planes after precautionary checks | Anchor runs mid-telecast as Israeli airstrikes hit Syria's state TV building | Rare oil painting of Mahatma Gandhi sells for an astounding Rs 1.7 crore | Brother of Yemeni man killed by Nimisha Priya opposes pardon of Kerala nurse
Kamal Nath
Image credit: IBNS File

ECI seeks explanation from Kamal Nath on his 'item' remark

| @indiablooms | Oct 22, 2020, at 02:49 am

New Delhi/IBNS:  The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday issued notice to former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath seeking explanation on his "item" remark against former party colleague and BJP candidate for bypolls Imarti Devi.

During his address in Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior on Sunday, Kamal Nath had triggered a controversy calling Imarti Devi an "item", drawing strong reactions from the ruling dispensation.

".. What is her name? Why should I take her name? You know her better and you all should have warned me earlier. What an item! What an item!" Nath said, referring to Imarti Devi, who had switched from the Congress to BJP.

The ECI notice to Nath on Wednesday said: "The Commission gives you an opportunity to explain your stand in making the above said statement within 48 hours of receipt of this notice, failing which the Election Commission of India shall take a decision without further reference to you."

Following a huge controversy and criticisms, Kamal Nath on Monday tried to explain his remark claiming that he was not insulting anyone but forgot "the person's" name.

Speaking to media persons, Kamal Nath had said: "I said something, it wasn't to insult anyone. I just didn't remember the (person's) name... this list (in his hand) says item no.1, item no.2. Is this an insult?"

Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi also disapproved of the language Nath used to describe a woman.

During a press briefing on Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi said: "Kamal Nath Ji is from my party, but, I didn't like personally the type of language that kamal Nath Ji has used and I don't appreciate it. I think it's unfortunate."

Earlier countering his former party colleague, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Jyotiraditya Scindia said, "First Digvijaya Singh had said something about Meenakshi Natrajan, now Kamal Nath called BJP's Imarti Devi an "item". Earlier Ajay Singh had called her "jalebi". Congress never respects women."

The attack on Nath also came from Imarti Devi who has urged Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi to remove the veteran politician from her outfit.

"I request Sonia Gandhi to remove him from her party," said Imarti Devi.

In protest against Nath's comment, Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Chouhan on Monday held a silent protest with a two-hour "Maun Vrat" in the state capital Bhopal.

 

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Close menu