Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said he respected chief minister Mamata Banerjee even though she belonged to his rival camp, a comment which was in sharp contrast to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s controversial “Didi O Didi” jibe at poll rallies.

Speaking at a public meeting at Swarupnagar in North 24-Parganas in support of BJP candidate Brindavan Sarkar, Singh said: “You are a chief minister, you too are an institution. I have never spoken foul language against you. You may belong to a rival party, but I have always respected you a lot.”

“You are a woman and deserve respect. Respecting women is the tradition of India,” he added, while urging BJP supporters to respect women as an incarnation of “power”.

“I respect women and will never tolerate any insult to the woman community,” he added.

The defence minister, however, criticised Mamata for alleged corruption and nepotism. “I oppose you because your party has cheated and deprived people of their rights…but never used any bad language,” he added.

Singh, however, said he expected that Mamata would also reciprocate the same gesture whenever she spoke.

“Using foul terms like Dushasana against the Prime Minister does not suit a chief minister.”

He urged Mamata to avoid using slanderous words against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“The Prime Minister is an institution, not an individual. You too are an institution …Using foul language does not suit a leader,” he added.

On Monday, Mamata had accused Modi of mocking her with “Didi, O Didi” chants and termed it as disrespectful to women.

She alleged the way Modi had been mocking her was “below the standard” and did not suit a Prime Minister.

She also said the Prime Minister should speak in a dignified language, behave properly and respect women. “But the way he is taunting and mocking me is a matter of shame,” she said.

A Trinamul leader in North 24-Parganas praised Singh for his comments.

“Ideologically, as a BJP leader, Rajnath is no different than Narendra Modi. But he marked his difference in culture by showing respect to the chief minister who is a woman,” the leader said.