‘It's a mark of respect’: Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut defends Maharashtra minister's comment likening road to Hema Malini's cheeks

Sanjay Raut made these remarks a day after Maharashtra Minister Gulabrao Patil stirred up a political controversy by comparing the roads in his constituency of Jalgaon district to actor-lawmaker Hema Malini's cheeks. 

NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut has defended a comment made by his party colleague likening roads to BJP MP and actress 'Hema Malini's cheeks', saying that such comments had been made earlier as well and it was a "mark of respect" for the iconic Bollywood actor.

"This type of comparison has happened earlier too. It's a respect for Hema Malini. So, don't see it negatively. Earlier, Lalu Yadav had also given a similar example. We respect Hema Malini," the Shiv Sena leader told news agency ANI.