Digvijaya Singh Defends Congress MLA Over Controversial Rape Remarks
Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijaya Singh stepped forward on Monday to defend Congress MLA Phool Singh Baraiya. Baraiya faced severe backlash last week for making offensive comments about rape. Singh argued that the MLA was merely quoting from a published book.
Singh Shifts Blame to Book Author
Digvijaya Singh, a senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP, stated clearly that Baraiya quoted directly from a book written by Hari Mohan Jha. Jha previously served as the head of the philosophy department at Patna University. Singh insisted that any action should target the author, not the MLA.
"He said in very clear words that whatever he mentioned was written in a book authored by the head of the department of philosophy at Patna University," Singh explained. "He is a Brahmin, Jha Sahab. All this is written in that book. This was not his comment. If you want to act, then act against the person who wrote the book."
The former chief minister further pointed out that the book was published by Rajkamal Prakashan. He suggested authorities could take action against the publisher as well.
Baraiya's Original Controversial Statements
Congress MLA Phool Singh Baraiya spoke to a reporter in Datia on Friday. He made shocking claims about rape during that conversation. Baraiya argued that a man's mind can get distracted when he sees an extremely beautiful woman. This distraction, he claimed, could lead to rape.
"In India, the maximum number of rapes happen to women of SC, ST and OBC categories," Baraiya stated. "The theory of rape is, when a man is walking down the road and he sees a beautiful, extremely beautiful woman, then his brain can get distracted and rape may happen."
He then posed a rhetorical question. "Are there any extremely beautiful women in SC, ST and OBC? Why then are they raped?" Baraiya answered his own question by asserting that such instructions appear in religious scripts.
Political Fallout and Public Reaction
The remarks sparked immediate controversy across political circles and social media. Many citizens expressed outrage over the MLA's comments. Critics condemned the statements as insensitive and factually incorrect.
Digvijaya Singh's defense adds another layer to this developing story. His intervention highlights the ongoing tension within political parties regarding controversial statements by their members. The situation remains fluid as public pressure mounts for accountability.
Observers note that such incidents often test party discipline and public relations strategies. The Congress party now faces difficult decisions about how to handle this sensitive matter. They must balance internal loyalty with external expectations for responsible leadership.
