Congress on Friday disapproved of its MP Sanjay Nirupam reportedly using defamatory and indecent language against Bharatiya Janata Party MP Smriti Irani during a TV debate, saying it was "very regrettable".
BJP upped the ante on the issue saying its spokespersons and leaders will not attend news channel debates in which he is participating.
Nirupam had reportedly used defamatory and indecent language against Irani during a TV debate when the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh election results were pouring in on Thursday.
"This is very regrettable. To say such a thing is unfortunate. It is this mindset, which we have to fight," Congress spokesperson Renuka Chowdhary said.
BJP chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said that Nirupam "has made anti-women comments and BJP strongly condemns it. Nirupam is a Congress MP and his party is headed by a woman, yet he has made such derogatory remarks. We expect Congress President Sonia Gandhi to take action against him and apologise herself".
The BJP leader warned that in case Gandhi does not do so, party workers may hold protests against her.
"The kind of language and choice of words by Nirupam in a news channel debate against Irani, who is our mahila morcha chief and MP as well as an established TV actor, is most unfortunate and painful. He crossed all limits of decency and decorum," Prasad said.
Irani is in the process of sending a legal notice to Nirupam for this "gross defamation" and the party is exploring the legal steps that can be taken against him.
