Mumbai, August 4 (IANS) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis along with Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday condemned the Congress over its “gungi gudiya” (mute doll) remark targeting Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar.
The controversy erupted after Congress in its social media post said, “Sunetra Pawar, how many more days will she remain a “mute doll”!”
Chief Minister Fadnavis hit back at the Opposition, saying that the Congress has resorted to personal, low-level attacks out of sheer frustration over their political defeats.
He emphasised that using derogatory terms against a senior woman leader and Deputy Chief Minister reflects a ‘lack of political decency’ and shows that the Opposition is unable to digest MahaYuti’s governance and public support.
Echoing similar sentiments, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that Congress should feel a sense of public shame when using such derogatory language against Sunetra Pawar.
He added that the women of Maharashtra (‘Ladki Bahins’) have already given a fitting reply to such disrespect.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Dhananjay Munde launched a scathing attack on the Congress, saying that referring to Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar as ‘Gungi Gudiya’ (silent doll) on social media reflects the party’s deep-seated hatred and hostility toward the state’s first woman Deputy Chief Minister.
Speaking to the media, Munde urged the Congress to reflect on its own history before launching attacks on Sunetra Pawar.
He said that former Prime Minister late Indira Gandhi was once mockingly labeled ‘Gungi Gudiya’ by her political opponents, but she ultimately silenced critics through her leadership and performance.
Munde claimed that Congress is resorting to such language out of fear that Sunetra Pawar will similarly prove her mettle and earn the nation’s respect.
Referring to her recent visit to Beed, the NCP leader highlighted that despite facing difficult personal circumstances, Sunetra Pawar actively conducted meetings to address public grievances and worked late into the night.
He noted that the press conference had been scheduled solely to issue a statement.
However, when Sunetra Pawar became emotional while remembering husband and former Deputy CM late Ajit Pawar, certain media outlets failed to show the expected sensitivity, Munde expressed with regret.
NCP leader Munde also clarified that his recent use of the word ‘miracle’ was strictly in reference to his personal health and held no political intent.
He addressed reports regarding an incident at the Beed press conference, expressing disappointment over news coverage that claimed he had threatened a farmer, explaining that he had merely asked the individual to speak calmly.
Munde added that despite not holding a Ministerial portfolio for the past year-and-a-half and serving solely as an MLA, he has been subjected to an uninterrupted “media trial” for the last 252 days.
However, the State Congress Chief Harshwardhan Sapkal defended the controversial “Gungi Gudiya” (mute doll) term used against Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar in a recent post on the official social media account of Maharashtra Congress.
Clarifying the party’s stance, Sapkal said,” In public life and politics, when allegations are made, leaders must address journalists’ questions directly. However, when an individual (indirectly referring to NCP’s Dhananjay Munde) with a reputation as a goon orders journalists to remain silent in the presence of the Deputy Chief Minister, and no intervention is made, it undermines democratic and social norms. The description ‘Gungi Gudiya’ was used to highlight this silence and passive stance.”
He added that the description was not inappropriate, saying that Sunetra Pawar has remained silent on critical public issues, including the recent accident involving Ajit Pawar, demands for criminal registrations, the allocation of the Finance Department portfolio, and mounting political pressure from the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Drawing a historical parallel, Sapkal noted, “Former Prime Minister late Indira Gandhi was once labeled ‘Gungi Gudiya’ by critics, but she proved her mettle through her work and earned the title of ‘Iron Prime Minister’, later even being referred to as ‘Durga’ by Atal Bihari Vajpayee. If we have used this term as political criticism, it is now up to her to prove her strength. She should take charge of the Finance Ministry, secure loan waivers for farmers, resolve the smart meter issue, and release the investigation report on Ajit Pawar’s accident.”
He also launched a blistering attack on the NCP, alleging that Chief Minister Fadnavis ignores NCP Ministers’ portfolios and claiming that the party has effectively surrendered its independence to the BJP leadership.
He advised Sunetra Pawar to make firm, decisive choices rather than relying on agitations.
Meanwhile, the controversial remarks triggered sharp outrage from the NCP.
As Harshwardhan Sapkal was addressing the press conference, NCP leader Suraj Chavan, accompanied by party workers, barged into the Maharashtra Congress office situated in South Mumbai.
NCP staged similar protests against Congress in Thane, Pune and other parts of Maharashtra.
Shouting slogans against the Congress leadership, the NCP activists demanded an immediate apology for the derogatory remarks targeted at Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar.
The sudden intrusion created high tension at the premises before police personnel intervened to manage the situation.
The protesters raised slogans against the Congress, demanded a public apology towards Sunetra Pawar, and tried to confront Sapkal directly over the derogatory social media post.
A tense standoff unfolded as supporters from both Congress and NCP came face-to-face inside the venue.
Addressing the media following the protest, Suraj Chavan accused the Congress of disrespecting women.
“Perhaps Congress workers have forgotten Indira Gandhi. We will confront Congress offices across the state to demand answers. They must clarify whether demeaning women is part of Congress ideology. Sunetra Pawar’s work has unsettled them, and using derogatory terms like ‘Gungi Gudiya’ shows the rock-bottom level of their political discourse,” Chavan said.
He warned that if the Congress fails to issue a formal apology to Sunetra Pawar, NCP workers will enter Congress offices across Maharashtra to demand accountability.
The conflict marks a further escalation in political friction between the two parties.
Social activist Anjali Damania also publicly condemned Congress’s choice of words, calling it disrespectful towards a woman in office regardless of political differences.
–IANS
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