In remarks that could stoke a fresh controversy, Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agrawal today said that officers are "scared" to appoint women as their personal assistants after the passage of the bill to prevent sexual harassment of women at workplace.

Agrawal, whose remarks have led to controversies in the past, though refrained from commenting on the rape case against Tarun Tejpal till the probe is completed, he recalled that when the law in favour of women was being brought, he had expressed concern over it. "I had apprehended that this law may also be misused like the anti-dowry law and may result in a situation which the women themselves are deprived of justice.

"I have got this information from many people that a number of senior officers are not appointing women as their Personal Assistant. They are scared anyone may have to face any kind of allegation after this," Agrawal, who is a Rajya Sabha MP, said.