Nitin Gadkari sparks controversy with remarks about Lalu, Mulayam

Gadkari made the remarks while addressing a party meeting in Chandigarh.“‘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)," Nitin Gadkari said.

He told reporters that "I directly or indirectly never had any intention to indulge in loose talks, particularly about Mulayam Singhji and Laluji. I respect them as leaders."He said his use of the words against the two Yadavs while addressing a party meeting should not be "taken literally as that was never my intention and it was never in my mind". The Yadavs are "respectable leaders. If they feel something bad, then OK, no problem, I'll take my words back", Gadkari said.