Congress MLA Phool Singh Baraiya’s recent remarks on women and rape based on caste and religion have triggered widespread backlash from political parties, social organisations, and the general public.
Congress MLA Phool Singh Baraiya’s recent remarks on women and their beauty have sparked widespread debate and triggered a political storm and faced blacklash in Madhya Pradesh. He reportedly stated that women belonging to the SC, ST, and OBC communities are not beautiful. The comments have drawn strong reactions from opposition parties and have been widely condemned by social organisations and the general public. His statements have raised serious concerns about gender bias and social discrimination and have also been perceived as offensive to Hindu religious sentiments, leaving a deep impact on public opinion.
Congress MLA Phool Singh Baraiya from Bhander, in a recent media interview, linked rape with caste and religion. During the interview, he stated that women belonging to OBC, SC, and ST communities are considered “not beautiful,” a remark that itself raises serious concerns about the objectification of women based on appearance. In his remarks he further claimed that women from these communities are targeted because of a distorted beliefe system providing reference to Rudrayamal Tantra alleging that perpetrators believe sexual violence against women of certain castes grants them spiritual merit equivalent to undertaking a pilgrimage. The citation of the scripture has sparked religious controversy and public claims it to be a question on Hindu Religion.
"Who are the most victims of rape in India? Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and OBCs. The theory of rape is that if a man, regardless of his mental state, is walking down the road and sees a beautiful girl, it can distract his mind and make him rape a woman."
Marking on the objectification of women, Congress MLA Phool Singh stated that men, even under normal circumstances, commit rape to gain some form of reward. He further claimed that women are raped at a young age because rape cannot occur without consent, which is why small children are targeted. Social organisations and political parties have condemned these remarks, viewing them as an attempt to justify rape and take sides.
"It is written that by having intercourse with a woman of this caste, you will get the reward of a pilgrimage. Now, if he can't go on a pilgrimage, then what is the alternative? Have intercourse at home, and you will be rewarded... He will try to rape her by grabbing her in the dark or light. A man cannot rape a woman without her consent. That's why four-month-old and one-year-old girls are raped. He does it for a reward."
Congress MLA's Remarks on Women (Source: IBC24 Digital)
One of the Congress President Jitu Patwari taking a stance states that rape of any kind cannot be justified. Sexual violence is a crime, he states and cannot be rationalised.
BJP media incharge Ashish Agarwal demanding an immediate apology stated it to be a deliberate attempt and not something that slips of his toungue. He states:
"Weighing women on the scale of 'beauty' and describing heinous crimes against Dalit and tribal women as a so-called sacred act is misogyny, anti-Dalit thinking and a direct assault on humanity."
Social organisations also reacted strongly to the remarks. The All India Brahmin Society, Madhya Pradesh unit, condemned the statement. Its state president, Pushpendra Mishra, said such remarks insult women and society at large and demanded accountability.
Public opinion has also highlighted that judging women through the lens of beauty and classifying beauty based on race or caste is deeply disturbing. The use of religious texts to justify a crime has sparked widespread debate and, according to many, has raised serious questions about the misrepresentation of Hinduism.
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