Maharashtra Speaker slams Congress's 'gungi gudiya' jibe at Sunetra Pawar
Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar on Wednesday termed the "gungi gudiya" remark against Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar as unfortunate and said anyone using such
Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar on Wednesday termed the "gungi gudiya" remark against Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar as unfortunate and said anyone using such language should express regret and apologise. The comment has triggered a political row, drawn criticism from leaders in the ruling alliance and led to protests by workers of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The controversy began after NCP leader Dhananjay Munde reportedly shielded Sunetra Pawar from a journalist's question on the law and order situation in Beed district on Tuesday. Read Full Story The Maharashtra Congress later shared a video of the episode on social media and referred to Pawar as "gungi gudiya" or "silent doll", prompting a sharp backlash from the NCP, an ally of the BJP in the Mahayuti government.
Speaking to reporters in Raigad, Narwekar, who is a BJP leader, said respecting women and honouring mothers and sisters has always been an integral part of Maharashtra's political culture. "Using such language or improper phrasing against women is unfortunate. Whosoever has used such language ought to express genuine regret and issue an apology for their remarks," he said. After the row escalated, Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal described the post against Pawar as "regrettable" and said it was the result of a "miscommunication". He had earlier defended the expression, saying it referred to her public conduct and silence on key issues and was not an abusive or unparliamentary term.
The post also led to protests by workers of the Pawar-led NCP, who stormed the Congress office in Mumbai and demanded an unconditional apology. Police detained the protesters and tightened security outside the Congress office. Sunetra Pawar has said she will respond to the controversy at an appropriate time. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis accused the Congress of lowering the standard of political discourse, while Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who heads the Shiv Sena, condemned the remark and called it an insult to Sunetra Pawar and to women across the state.
The controversy over the Congress post has since widened into a larger political confrontation, with demands for an apology, protests by NCP workers and criticism from senior leaders in the ruling alliance. Ends
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