‘Imported Maal’ Comment Was For Political Gains, Says Apologetic Sena (UBT) Leader

Mumbai: Politicians don’t often think before they speak, and hence land in trouble.

Just like Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Arvind Sawant.

Facing a police case for his ‘imported maal’ comment against Shiv Sena Shinde’s Shaina NC, Sawant had to apologise for his sexist jibe.

Claiming that his statement “was tweaked”, the Lok Sabha MP said, “If someone got hurt by my statement, I apologise to them. I have never insulted women in my 55 years of my political career.”

Sawant admitted that what he said “was done for political gains… I had no other intention, I didn’t even take anyone’s name.”

The controversy erupted on Friday after a video went viral in which Sawant purportedly refers to Shaina as ‘imported maal’. He was referring to Shaina’s leaving the BJP and joining the Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena party earlier this week.

Shaina, who is contesting from Mumbadevi constituency in the upcoming Assembly elections, lodged a complaint against Sawant at Nagpada police station on the basis of which an FIR was filed.