Post the Dadri lynching case, we heard a lot of ministers and politicians giving insensitive statements and jumping to conclusions one after the other.
Mahesh Sharma’s sexist remark caught the most attention and took Twitter by a storm. The Dadri police has filed a report against him for violating prohibitory orders and booked him under Section 144.
For the last two days he has faced severe backlash for this sexist statement. While this remark found the most attention, the fact is that he is not the only one. So, here is a quick list of all sexist and communalist remarks by politicians on Dadri lynching.
BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj stoked a fresh controversy over the Dadri lynching case, saying Hindus consider cow as their mother and used the analogy of a terrorist who attacks the country and gets killed in the process.
“If someone insults our mother, we would rather die than tolerate it…for us it is Bharat mata, our biological mother and gau mata…I want to ask (UP Minister and SP leader) Mohd Azam Khan and those who favour eating beef as to how would they feel if someone they revere as their mother is cut.”
Union Minister Mahesh Sharma said Dadri lynching was an unfortunate accident and not an act of communal violence.
“You must have seen that whenever there is any buzz about cow slaughter, media, people all rush (to the spot). All those who love the cow rush (to the spot). It (the murder) took place as a reaction to that incident (cow slaughter). You must also consider that there was also a 17-year-old daughter in that home. Kisi ne usey ungli nahin lagaayi.”
“If someone claims the incident was pre-planned, I completely refute this. What happened was an accident. It is unfortunate. An investigation by the CBI should be conducted,”
Demanding dismissal of senior Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan, BJP spokesperson Chandra Mohan said that he should be tried for treachery for taking the Dadri issue to the UN and tarnishing the image of the country at the global level.
“Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav should dismiss Azam Khan from his ministry… case of treachery should be lodged against him for damaging the image of the country by writing to the United Nations on the Dadri issue.”
VHP leader Sadhvi Prachi justifies Dadri lynching and joins the bandwagon of controversial statements by politicians.
“Those who consume beef deserve such actions against them.”
Former BJP MLA Nawab Singh Nagar from Dadri also gives his piece of mind.
“If cow slaughter and its consumption is proven, they (the victim and his family) are definitely at fault. There is a ban on slaughter of cows and this concerns the faith of Hindus. It is obvious that such an incident will lead to anger among people and there will be communal tension. If this was the case, the family is in the wrong. If they have consumed beef, they are also responsible. This is a village of Thakurs and they express their sentiments in a very strong way. If they have done this, they should have kept in mind what the reaction would be.”
Shrichand Sharma, vice-president of BJP’s western UP unit, blamed the state administration for the incident and said it appeared to be biased towards a particular community.
“When we hurt people’s sentiments, such clashes take place. This was not a communal riot. The Hindu community worships cows. Whose blood won’t boil if they see cow slaughter?”
Union minister and BJP leader from Uttar Pradesh Sanjeev Balyan said Dadri lynching was a “spontaneous act” and no communal colour should be given to it.
“The incident was spontaneous and there was no conspiracy.The issue should not be linked to communalism and to any party. Whatever happened was wrong and unfortunate. But why do such incidents happen? This is a social issue and is attached to the emotions of Hindu community. It is better to see the issue from this angle.”
BJP lawmaker Sangeet Som attacked Samajwadi Party government for appeasing the minority community and framing innocent people for Dadri lynching.
“This government is trying to appease a particular community. They want to do politics of appeasement which we will not allow. We don’t want that those guilty of murder should not be tried but the government should stop framing the innocent.”
It is not a mere coincidence that all the politicians who have spoken in favour of Dadri lynching belong to BJP or its sister parties. This is a very sorry and scary state of affairs. What are your thoughts, tell us in the comments section below.
