Bharatiya Janta Party’s Aligarh mayor Shakuntala Bharti was left red-faced on Saturday, when at an event she referred to former Prime Minister Atal Bihar Vajpayee as deceased on the occasion of his 92nd birthday.

Dharam Jyoti Mahavidyalya School at Iglas in Aligarh had organized an event to celebrate the 92nd birthday of Vajpayee and 155th birth anniversary of Madan Mohan Malviya. 

Speaking at the event, Bharti said, “Bharat ke purv pradhan mantri Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji hamare beech me nahin rahe, lekin unki yadein hai (Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji is no longer with us, but his memories remain).”

b’Source/PTI’

Soon after her statement, former Aligarh zila panchayat member and BSP leader Narendra Pachauri said that such a statement was unacceptable and Bharti should not make public speeches if “she is so ignorant,” reports Times of India.

However, later she tried to cover-up by saying she was referring to “Malviya ji and not Vajpayee ji.” TOI also reports that in another incident, she apologised for her statement and said that she regrets such a mistake and wishes a long and healthy life for the veteran politician. 

(Feature image source: PTI)