Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia criticized Congress MLA Phool Singh Baraiya for his offensive comments about elected representatives from the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) communities. Baraiya, a senior Congress figure, likened SC/ST MLAs and MPs to dogs at a party meeting in Bhopal, stating they “can’t even bark.”
Scindia, a Lok Sabha MP from Madhya Pradesh’s Guna, expressed disapproval of Baraiya’s statement, emphasizing that regardless of their performance, public representatives are chosen by the people and should be treated with respect. He urged against using derogatory language towards elected officials, highlighting the need for restraint in such situations.
In response to the controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, Scindia defended the process as a routine measure to authenticate legitimate voters. He noted that this practice, initiated by India’s first Prime Minister, has faced opposition from those fearing electoral defeat. The remarks made by Baraiya have ignited political tensions in the state, drawing criticism from various BJP leaders, including Madhya Pradesh Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Vishwas Sarang.
Baraiya has a history of making contentious statements, with past instances of using inappropriate language against leaders of opposing parties. Notably, in a previous incident in June last year, he questioned the bravery of Rani Laxmibai, suggesting she died by suicide.
