AAP will ensure 'beautiful women' can go out at midnight: Somnath Bharti

New Delhi: Former Delhi law minister Somnath Bharti created a flutter on Monday by saying that "beautiful women" would be able to go out at midnight provided AAP government takes over policing system in the national capital.

"I am fully confident that if Delhi government is given full freedom (over security), beautiful women will be able to go out even after midnight without any fear. "We will provide a fully-secure Delhi..." Somnath Bharti said during a discussion on setting up of 'Commission of Inquiry' in the Delhi assembly.

Bharti's comment evoked sharp reaction from both BJP and Congress.

"It is absolutely disgusting and derogatory towards women, but it is not surprising coming from someone who defied law even when he was law minister. It really shows his attitude," DPCC chief spokesperson Sharmistha Mukherjee said.

Senior BJP leader Vijendra Gupta, who is opposition leader in the Delhi assembly, said that it is "highly objectionable remark" of the AAP leader. "The remark shows what he thinks about women. It is highly objectionable remark of Bharti. He made a comment in presence of chief minister who did not stop him from using such words for women," Gupta said.

Later, defending his statement, Bharti in a Facebook post said, "I request media friends not to twist my statement: I have said "beautiful women laden with jewelleries can travel at midnight fearlessly is the kind of benchmark one can measure security level at Delhi against, if AAP has police control".

"And ppl like Ms. Sharmistha Mukherji can't even understand the meaning of this statement whose brother (Abhijeet Mukherjee) had gone to insult the protesting women by calling them dented-painted. Have some shame n don't politicise just for the sake of politics!!! (sic)," he said.