NEW DELHI: “Friends, men took part in the war while eunuchs went to the Sangh,” Congress MLA Sahab Singh Gurjar said during a protest in Ashoknagar on Tuesday, news agency PTI reported.A video of the remark surfaced online and was widely circulated, leading to accusations of ‘sexism and insult to the third gender. Gurjar, who represents the Gwalior Rural assembly seat, made the statement while addressing a ‘Nyaya Satyagraha’ protest staged by senior Congress leaders, including Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Jitu Patwari, former chief minister Digvijaya Singh and Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar. The protest was organised in response to an FIR filed against Patwari, who has been accused of allegedly forcing a person to make false claims related to an incident in Mudra Barwah village. Last month, the Mungaoli police in Ashoknagar district registered a case after reports emerged that a youth from the Lodhi community had been assaulted and made to eat faeces. The BJP hit back strongly at Gurjar’s remarks and questioned whether similar language would be used for other Congress leaders who did not attend the protest.“Did the opposition leader use a similar word for former CM Kamal Nath and former Union minister Arun Yadav as they did not join the Congress’ ‘Nyaya Satyagraha’?” BJP leaders asked. Madhya Pradesh minister Vishwas Sarang termed the protest “unsuccessful” and alleged it was a “vulgar” agitation. “This protest presents a strong example of factionalism in the Congress,” Sarang said. Referring to Gurjar’s remarks, he added, “This statement of the Congress MLA was an insult to the third gender and women.” “The BJP strongly condemns such a statement in a civilised society,” the minister said. As of now, Sahab Singh Gurjar has not issued any clarification on his comment.
