Lok Sabha adjourns briefly over BJP demanding DMK MP’s apology on ‘gaumutra’ states remark

Related: DMK MP apologises after ‘gaumutra states’ jibe at Hindi heartland

BJP seeks apology

“Baalu ji should apologise first for the kind of remarks made by the DMK member. How can the House run like this? How can any member make any remarks and walk away,” Goyal, the Union minister of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, said.

“What is your problem? You should not behave like this,” Baalu said, referring to the ministers.

Soon, other BJP members rose and asked Baalu to apologise.

“They are trying to divide the country. Rahul Gandhi, when he lost from Amethi, also made a statement on the north-south divide,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said, referring to the opposition benches.

As the din continued, Birla adjourned the House proceedings for 20 minutes till noon.

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The comments

Participating in a debate in the Lower House on two Bills related to Jammu and Kashmir, Senthilkumar said people of this country should think that the power of the BJP was only winning elections “in the heartland states of Hindi and what we generally called as the gaumutra states”.

The comments come in the backdrop of some referring to the recent Assembly election results as a “North-South divide” after the BJP trounced the Congress in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, while the Congress won in Telangana.

However, Senthilkumar apologised for the comment on Tuesday evening. He took to X and said he did not intend to use the word in any wrong way.

“Commenting on the results of the five recent state assembly elections, I have inappropriately used a word. Not using that term with any intent, I apologise for sending the wrong meaning across,” he said in a post on X.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Senthilkumar said, “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.”

He went on to say, “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.”

In Tamil Nadu, state BJP chief K Annamalai condemned the “insensitive” remarks of the MP, saying the level of the party’s discourse was “sinking” like Chennai and the “arrogance” of the DMK would be the prime reason for its downfall.

Congress MP Karthi Chidambaram termed the comment unfortunate and sought an apology from Senthilkumar.

Tamil Nadu Congress working president Mohan Kumaramangalam slammed the MP and said that the usage was not in the common parlance in the state.

Senthilkumar apologises in Lok Sabha

Later, Senthilkumar expressed regret in the Lok Sabha over his controversial ‘north-south divide’ remark which had sparked a backlash.

At 12 noon, when the House reassembled for the Zero Hour, Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal raised the issue and asked if DMK leader TR Baalu and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi agree with the comments.

Demanding an apology, he said, “Is TR Baalu standing with him? Is Rahul Gandhi standing with him? Voters have made BJP victorious in three states, and this is what they say. This is the thinking of dividing India into north and south. We will not allow it,” he said.

Baalu, who raised the issue of floods caused by Cyclone Michaung in Tamil Nadu and demanded that the Centre declare it as a national calamity, said the remarks made by Senthilkumar were not correct.

“The statement made by Senthilkumar was not correct. MK Stalin has warned the particular member,” Baalu said.

Soon after, Senthilkumar expressed regret over the comment.

Senthilkumar said the remarks were made “inadvertently” and if they have hurt the sentiments of people, he withdraws them.

(With PTI inputs)