Mumbai, Aug 5 (PTI) Maharashtra NCP president Sunil Tatkare on Wednesday lashed out at the Congress over its remark targeting Sunetra Pawar as "gungi gudiya", claiming the Opposition party had displayed "ideological bankruptcy".

A mere expression of regret was not enough and political leaders should exercise restraint in their public comments, Tatkare told reporters.

The issue flared on Tuesday after the Maharashtra Congress posted a video on social media in which NCP leader Dhananjay Munde reportedly shielded Sunetra Pawar from a journalist's question about the law and order situation in Beed district.

Pawar is the guardian minister of Beed district, where Munde's close aide Walmik Karad is the prime accused in the murder of Massajog sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh.

The Congress dubbed Deputy CM and NCP head Sunetra Pawar a "gungi gudiya" (silent doll), drawing a sharp backlash from her party.

State Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal, in a post on X on Tuesday night, however, said the remark against Pawar was regrettable and a result of miscommunication.

"By making such remarks, the Congress has exposed its ideological bankruptcy. Merely expressing regret does not end the matter. At times, one must have the sense of what should and should not be said," Tatkare said.

The Lok Sabha member further said only the principal speaker should address a press conference, in an apparent rap to NCP colleague Dhananjay Munde, asserting that party leaders would act more responsibly in future.

"This should not have happened. Only the main person should speak, not those sitting beside them. Our colleagues will certainly act responsibly in such matters," he said.

Tatkare said he would first understand the context in which the senior leader (Munde) spoke, but maintained that a press conference belongs to the main dignitary.

"I will understand in what context and for what reason Dhananjay Munde spoke. Ultimately, the press conference belongs to the main dignitary. It is fine to sit beside them, but participating in the press conference while sitting on the side is, in my opinion, not appropriate," he said.

"A press conference is held in the name of the main person. They alone should interact with the media. That is the essence of such an interaction," he opined.

Tatkare said even when journalists direct questions to those seated beside him during his own press conferences, he insists that they be addressed to him.

"This is the norm from both sides, and our colleagues will certainly behave more responsibly on such occasions in the future," he added. PTI MR GK