Amaravati, April 17: State Minister Satya Kumar Yadav on Friday strongly condemned the remarks made by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in Parliament during the debate on the Nari Shakti Vandan Bill, demanding that Gandhi immediately retract his statements and offer an unconditional apology to the people of the country.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP State office in Vijayawada, the Minister said it was deeply irresponsible of Gandhi to mock Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a time when Parliament was engaged in a crucial debate on women's empowerment. He described Gandhi's references to the Prime Minister as a "jadugar" and a "magician" as unworthy of a Leader of Opposition, and said his remarks undermining the country's military strength were wholly unacceptable.

Satya Kumar Yadav said Prime Minister Modi's leadership had been clearly visible in enhancing India's stature on the international stage and in driving national development. He asserted that the Central government's decisions on national security and military strength had made India significantly more powerful, pointing in particular to the firm stance adopted against Pakistan in bolstering the country's defence.

The Minister said Congress party's opposition to the Nari Shakti Vandan Bill had laid bare the party's true attitude towards women's empowerment. He added that the Central government's transparent and corruption-free governance continued to enjoy strong public support.

On the delimitation issue, Satya Kumar Yadav said the increase in parliamentary seats following the census was intended to ensure justice for southern States, with the possibility of up to a 50 per cent increase in seats for the south. He criticised the Congress for having fostered a sense of division between northern and southern States during its tenure in power.

The Minister said the BJP would welcome support from any party for decisions aimed at women's development and national progress.

Guntur, April 17: BJP State media panellist Taduvai Ramakrishna on Friday launched a sharp attack on Leader of Opposition in Parliament Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of conduct unbecoming of a parliamentarian and of making remarks that brought shame to civilised society.

Referring to the debate in Parliament on Friday, Ramakrishna alleged that Gandhi's comments were deeply offensive to the 140 crore people of the country. He said that Gandhi had not only made inappropriate remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi but had also criticised the Indian Army, which he described as painful and unacceptable. He demanded that Gandhi apologise to the nation immediately for his statements.

Ramakrishna also trained his guns on the Congress party, alleging that its positions have consistently worked against national interests. He said the party had exposed its true character by opposing the Women's Reservation Bill and attempting to obstruct the delimitation process. He reaffirmed that the BJP-led NDA government remained firmly committed to the empowerment of women.

Turning to the Congress leadership, he alleged that the party's policies had become an impediment to the country's progress. Citing a series of political developments over the years, he said the decline of the Congress party was only accelerating under Rahul Gandhi's leadership.

Ramakrishna said the people of the country were welcoming the Central government's decisions aimed at national development, particularly the advancement of Other Backward Classes and the political empowerment of women. He described the introduction of the Women's Reservation Bill as a historic moment and asserted that the credit for this landmark legislation belonged entirely to the BJP and the NDA government.