Will try to avoid using it next time: DMK MP Senthilkumar says on ‘Gaumutra states’ remark

NEW DELHI: After stoking a controversy by stating that BJP can only win elections in ‘Gaumutra states’, DMK MP Senthilkumar on Tuesday said that if these remarks have hurt someone’s feelings, then he would not use it again.

Senthilkumar said, “I made some statement inside the House. At the time, Home Minister and BJP members were there. I have used this before in my Parliament speeches. It was not a controversial statement. 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”.

#WATCH | DMK MP DNV Senthilkumar S on his 'Gaumutra' remark, "I made some statement inside the House. At the time Home Minister & BJP members were there at that time. I have used this before in my Parliament speeches. It was not a controversial statement. If it touches somebody I… pic.twitter.com/bUUbQ0O7fY

— ANI (@ANI) December 5, 2023

On being asked if such remarks would hurt the sentiments of people, Senthilkumar said, “No, I don’t think anybody’s sentiments were hurt. There was nothing controversial inside the House. If people find it controversial, then I will use some different words to explain what I meant”.

Reacting to the ‘Gaumutra States’ jibe at BJP made by DMK MP D N V Senthilkumar S, Congress leader Karti Chidambaram on Tuesday demanded an apology from the Lok Sabha Parliamentarian and said that the choice of his words was “unfortunate”.

#WATCH | Winter Session of Parliament | DMK MP DNV Senthilkumar S says "…The people of this country should think that the power of this BJP is only winning elections mainly in the heartland states of Hindi, what we generally call the 'Gaumutra' states…" pic.twitter.com/i37gx9aXyI

— ANI (@ANI) December 5, 2023

In a post on X, Lok Sabha MP from Sivaganga, Karti Chidambaram said, “Very unfortunate choice of words. Unparliamentary. Dr Senthil must forthwith apologize and withdraw his comments”. Congress MP Rajiv Shukla said, “The politics of DMK is different. Congress does not agree with their politics. Congress believes in ‘Sanatana Dharma’ and ‘Gaumata’ as well. We believe in moving forward with people from all religions”.

Earlier today, taking a jibe at BJP after its resounding victories in the Assembly polls in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, DMK MP D N V Senthilkumar said, “Union Territories always look toward becoming states. But this is the first case where a state has become a Union Territory. BJP has just won many of the state elections. When they are not able to win a state, they make it a Union Territory where they can have control over the governor and can run governance through them. If they were confident of a win there they would have not made it. So people of this country should think that the power of the BJP is winning elections mainly in the heartland states of Hindi and what we generally call as the ‘Gaumutra states’,” he added.

Former Congress MP Milind Deora said that DMK must realise that its reckless remarks only weaken the efforts of the INDIA Alliance.

“Very unfortunate to witness an Indian MP making derogatory statements against #GauMata & Sanatana Dharma culture revered by over 1 billion Indians. Many, including myself, consider ourselves Sanatanis. DMK must realise that its reckless remarks only weaken the INDIA Alliance’s efforts in challenging the BJP in the Hindi heartland. India is one, and there is no place for a north-south divide”, Milind Deora posted on X.

The election results in the four states led to the Congress losing its governments in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh to the BJP and also failed to dislodge the BJP government from Madhya Pradesh. However, it was able to register victory in Telangana. (ANI)