Congress MLA Phool Singh Baraiya Faces Fire for Controversial Rape Comments
Madhya Pradesh Congress MLA Phool Singh Baraiya ignited a major controversy on Saturday. He made shocking statements about rape and attempted to link them to religious scriptures. The incident occurred through a video posted on his official Facebook page.
MLA's Disturbing Justification of Rape
In the video, Baraiya presented what he called a "theory of rape." He claimed that any man walking on a road could feel disturbed upon seeing a beautiful woman. According to him, this disturbance could directly lead to rape. He stated in Hindi, "The theory of rape is that any man, if he sees a beautiful woman while walking on the road, can get disturbed, and rape can happen."
The MLA further escalated the controversy by making claims about certain religious texts. Without naming any specific religion, he asserted that some scriptures allegedly permit rape. He suggested these texts promise spiritual rewards for such acts.
Claims About Scriptures and Caste
Baraiya made particularly inflammatory remarks regarding caste. He claimed that according to these texts, if a person cannot visit a pilgrimage site, an alternative path involves having sex with women from Dalit or tribal communities. He said this would grant them the same spiritual merit as the pilgrimage.
He stated in Hindi, "It is written that having sex with a person of this caste will give the spiritual reward of that pilgrimage." The MLA then questioned the beauty of women from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes. He asked rhetorically which Adivasi, SC, or OBC woman is very beautiful.
Baraiya connected this to rape cases against women from these communities. He claimed rape happens against them even though, in his view, they are not beautiful. He attributed this to what he called their scriptures. He extended this reasoning to explain why rape occurs against small children as well.
Political Backlash and Condemnation
The remarks have triggered widespread outrage across political lines. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan strongly condemned the statements. He expressed his deep respect for daughters, comparing them to goddesses.
Chouhan emphasized that society should not view daughters through the lens of caste or social divisions. He referenced Indian tradition, stating that daughters reflect the forms of Goddess Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati. The minister's response highlights the severe nature of the controversy.
The incident has put the Congress party in an uncomfortable position. It raises serious questions about the statements made by their elected representative. Public reaction continues to grow as more people view the controversial video.
This controversy emerges amid ongoing national discussions about women's safety and dignity. Baraiya's comments have been widely criticized as irresponsible and dangerous. They risk normalizing violence against women through distorted interpretations.
The political fallout remains uncertain. Pressure mounts on the Congress leadership to address the issue. Many demand strict action against the MLA for his inflammatory remarks. The episode underscores the need for greater sensitivity among public representatives regarding gender issues.
