Dehradun, Jan. 3 -- The state Congress unit on Friday staged a protest outside the residence of cabinet minister Rekha Arya in Dehradun and demanded apology over his husband, Girdhari Lal Sahu's objectionable remarks against women. Girdhari Lal Sahu made the statements in question while addressing a gathering in the Someshwar assembly segment in Almora, from where Rekha Arya is an MLA. In a video message issued later, Sahu said the programme was a welcome ceremony for women and elderly people, and that during his address he had referred to the marriage of a friend. He claimed that the Opposition and the Congress had "distorted" his remarks and presented them out of context in the media. Referring to women, Sahu said that he has been organising the marriages of 101 girls every year in Bareilly for a long time and contributes whatever support he can. He further said that he holds the daughters of the Someshwar Assembly constituency, from where his wife contests elections, "in the same reverence as a goddess." When contacted, cabinet minister Rekha Arya didn't respond to calls by HT. Uttarakhand Mahila Congress president Jyoti Rautela said the statement reflects the distorted and regressive mindset of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which reduces the dignity of women to a monetary value. She said that while the BJP promotes slogans such as "Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao" (Save the Daughter, Educate the Daughter), such remarks by the husband of the women empowerment minister expose the party's real attitude towards women. "Sahu's statement is condemnable and reflects the mindset of the BJP, which views women as commodities meant to be bought and sold. For this reason, Rekha Arya and her husband must apologise to women across the entire country," she said. She demanded an explanation from cabinet minister Rekha Arya, considering her position as the minister of women empowerment in the state government. "We have also filed a complaint against Girdhari Lal Sahu at the Dalanwala police station and demanded strict legal action," Rautela said. BJP state media in-charge Manveer Singh Chauhan said the Congress has been doing politics on the matter as Arya's husband has already issued a clarification about his reference. "The Congress should refrain from its petty politics. It shows their frustration over the repeated losses in the elections," he said....