Gaumutra Row: Congress MP slams DMK leader over controversial remarks

Congress MP Rajiv Shukla on Tuesday slammed DMK MP DNV Senthilkumar S for his controversial remark against people hailing from the Hindi heartland.

“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,” Rajiv Shukla told the media.

#WATCH | On 'Gaumutra' remark by DMK MP DNV Senthilkumar S, Congress MP Rajiv Shukla says "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… pic.twitter.com/65gZEBBVx4

— ANI (@ANI) December 5, 2023

While speaking in the Lok Sabha, D N V Senthilkumar stated that people in this country should believe that the BJP’s influence is limited to winning elections “in the heartland states of Hindi and what we generally called as gaumutra states” during a discussion on two legislation pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir in the Lower House.

The remarks are made against the backdrop of some characterising the outcomes of the most recent assembly elections as a “North-South divide,” following the Congress’ victory in Telangana and the BJP’s crushing victories in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.

“You (BJP) cannot come to South India. You see all the results of what happens in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. We are very strong over there,” Senthilkumar said during his address in the Lok Sabha.

“We will not be surprised if you have an option of converting all these states into Union territories so that you can come into indirect power because you can never dream of setting foot over there and taking control of all the southern states,” he added.

BJP leaders protested against the insult to North Indians by DMK MP D N V Senthilkumar and asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi if he agreed with the controversial insulting remarks of its INDI alliance partner.

Addressing the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, BJP MP GVL Narasimha Rao urged the Tamil Nadu government to register a case against those making “hate speeches” against Sanatan Dharma and remove them from their posts.