New Delhi: A mocking response to the BJP’s win in the Hindi belt, terming the states where the party won as 'gaumutra' states—implying cow urine states—in the Lok Sabha, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Member of Parliament DNV Senthilkumar found himself embroiled in controversy.
The remarks were made in the context of the Bharatiya Janata Party's recent victories in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls.
Senthilkumar, representing Tamil Nadu's Dharmapuri constituency, expressed his view that the BJP's electoral successes were mainly concentrated in the Hindi heartland.
He stated, "You cannot come to south India... you see all the results of what happens in Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Telangana, and Karnataka."
The comments were made during a discussion on the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill.
The DMK MP accused the BJP of attempting to alter the political landscape in Jammu and Kashmir due to its inability to secure victories in the region through conventional means. He suggested that the creation of a Union Territory allowed the BJP to exercise greater control over the governance of the region.
Senthilkumar went further, speculating that the BJP might consider converting southern states into Union Territories to exert indirect control over them. This provocative statement drew strong reactions from the Bharatiya Janata Party members in the Lok Sabha.
BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi condemned Senthilkumar's remarks as disrespectful to the Sanatani tradition, equating it with Hinduism. She warned that the country would not tolerate such disrespect and stated, "The DMK will soon understand the benefits of cow urine."
GVL Narasimha Rao, a BJP Rajya Sabha MP, labelled Senthilkumar's comments as hate speech, reflecting the frustration of the Opposition alliance. Rao emphasized the significance of cow urine not only in North India but also in South India, where the cow is considered sacred.
In response to the escalating tensions, Congress MP Karti P Chidambaram criticized Senthilkumar's choice of words as "unfortunate" and "unparliamentary." Chidambaram took to Twitter, demanding an immediate apology and withdrawal of the controversial comments.
Amid the uproar, Senthilkumar later attempted to defuse the situation by expressing willingness to refrain from using such language in the future. He clarified, "If it touches somebody, I will try to avoid using it next time. I will use some other words to mention that where the BJP is strong in getting their votes."