Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar on Wednesday criticised the Congress over its "gungi gudiya" remark against Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, calling the language used against a woman "unfortunate" and saying those responsible should express regret and apologise.

The controversy erupted after the Maharashtra Congress used the phrase in a social media post targeting Sunetra Pawar, triggering protests by workers of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which is part of the ruling Mahayuti alliance.