"Unacceptable in politics, democracy": MP Minister Sarang lambasts Congress MLA's controversial remarks

Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh) [India], July 9 (ANI): Madhya Pradesh Minister Vishvas Sarang on Wednesday strongly criticised the statement made by Congress MLA Sahab Singh Gurjar, which sparked controversy with his remarks about the RSS, comparing them to "eunuchs", calling it unacceptable in politics and democracy.
Sarang implied that the MLA's statement was not only derogatory but also reflected poorly on the Congress party's values.
He expected senior leaders like Digvijaya Singh and Jitu Patwari to condemn the remark and maintain decorum in public discourse.
"I'm astonished that the Congress party is resorting to vocabulary that's unacceptable in politics and democracy. A Congress MLA, in the presence of senior leaders like Digvijaya Singh and Jitu Patwari, referred to party leaders who didn't attend their program as 'Hijada'. The statement 'Jo log jang me nhi aaye wo hijada hain' implies that leaders like Kamal Nath, Ajay Singh, Arun Yadav, and Umang Singhar, who were absent from the program, are being called 'Hijada'. I'm surprised that no one has refuted this remark. Digvijaya Singh and Patwari should have intervened to prevent such language. In my opinion, this kind of vocabulary has no place in Indian politics," said Sarang.
This comes after a Congress protest in Ashoknagar on Tuesday, MLA Sahab Singh Gurjar made a controversial statement, drawing criticism for sexism and insulting the third gender. His remarks, linking men's participation in war to eunuchs joining the Sangh, sparked outrage.
The BJP is demanding an apology and questioning whether similar language would be used for absent Congress leaders.
Gurjar's original statement, "Jo mard they vo jang me aaye, jo hijre they vo Sangh me gaye," translates to "Those who were men came to the war, those who were eunuchs went to the Sangh."
However, he clarified his stance on his statement to ANI today. Gurjar claimed that his statement was misinterpreted and not intended to target any particular group or individual.

 
"I want to clarify that my statement wasn't meant to convey the meaning being attributed to it. When I said, 'Those who fought in wars were men, and those who joined the Sangh were eunuchs,' I didn't intend to refer specifically to the RSS. In our language, 'Sangh' simply means 'together' or 'alongside.' I meant to emphasise that true men are those who stand with the public during difficult times, fighting for the nation's interests. The term 'Sangh' can refer to various organisations, such as the Kisan Sangh, and isn't exclusive to the RSS," Gurjar said.
He emphasised that his words were meant to illustrate a point about standing up for the people. He asserted his respect for the eunuch community and denied any intention to offend. He refused to apologize, believing his statement was not wrong since it wasn't targeted at anyone specifically
"I don't care who they're speculating about; my statement was just an example, not meant for any individual, party, or leader, including the RSS. I meant no disrespect to the eunuch community and hold them in high regard. Since I didn't target anyone specifically, I see no reason to apologise. My point was that true strength lies in fighting for the people, and if BJP members did the same, they'd earn the same recognition," said the Congress MLA.
"The ones who didn't participate in the battle, where did they go? They went to the Sangh. It appears that some individuals didn't support the freedom struggle or the people. When I say 'Sangh,' I mean it in the sense of 'being together' or 'aligning with someone.' Although others might interpret it differently, the meaning of a word can vary depending on one's perspective and ideology," added Gurjar.
A controversy erupted when Congress MLA Sahab Singh Gurjar from Gwalior Rural assembly constituency made a provocative statement during the party's 'Nyay Satyagraha' protest in Ashoknagar district.
The protest was held in response to an FIR filed against Jitu Patwari, the state Congress chief, who allegedly coerced a person into filing a false complaint. (ANI)