Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
A political row erupted in Maharashtra on Tuesday after the state Congress referred to Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction) chief Sunetra Pawar as a “gungi gudiya” (mute doll), prompting the NCP workers to storm the Congress office in Mumbai and raise slogans against the party.
The protest broke out after Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal addressed a press conference at Tilak Bhavan. Soon after the briefing, NCP workers entered the Congress office premises, shouted slogans and created a ruckus over the remark directed at Sunetra Pawar.
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Mumbai Police later detained the protesting NCP workers and took them to Colaba Police Station. Security outside the Congress office was also stepped up following the confrontation.
CONGRESS DEFENDS REMARK
Defending his statement, Harshvardhan Sapkal said the expression was a description of Sunetra Pawar’s public conduct and not an abusive or unparliamentary term.
“The issue is her conduct. If a person holding the post of Deputy Chief Minister does not answer journalists’ questions, asks reporters to remain quiet and stays silent on key issues, then such behaviour is not appropriate in a democracy. Sitting quietly without responding defines the term ‘gungi gudiya’. It is not an abusive or unparliamentary word,” Sapkal said.
He further alleged that Sunetra Pawar had remained silent on issues related to Ajit Pawar, including an alleged incident, the lack of investigation, registration of an FIR and financial assistance to those affected.
Congress also refused to withdraw the remark, maintaining that the NCP should view the comment in a positive context.
SHINDE, FADNAVIS SLAM CONGRESS
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde strongly condemned the Congress, saying the remark was an insult not only to Sunetra Pawar but to all women in Maharashtra.
“Their minds have become corrupted, which is why they have insulted a sister. Sunetra Pawar is Maharashtra’s first woman Deputy Chief Minister. Earlier too, Congress insulted the ‘Ladli Behans’ with derogatory language and women taught them a lesson. This is an insult to every mother and sister in Maharashtra. Congress must apologise immediately for this condemnable statement,” Shinde said.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also criticised the Congress, accusing it of lowering the standard of political discourse.
“They have stooped to a very low level. Since they are not getting attention, they are making such statements just to remain in the headlines. Maharashtra’s political culture has rarely witnessed such a decline,” Fadnavis said.
ROHIT PAWAR TAKES NEUTRAL STAND
In contrast, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Rohit Pawar adopted a measured position, saying the statement should not be viewed purely as an insult.
He noted that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had also once been described as a “gungi gudiya”, but had responded through her work. “It is neither entirely right nor entirely wrong. Indira Gandhi was also called ‘gungi gudiya’, but she answered her critics through her actions. Such comments should be taken positively,” Rohit Pawar said.
The controversy has further intensified the political confrontation between the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the Congress, with both sides refusing to soften their stand over the remark.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
