Congress leader calls Sunetra Pawar 'gungi gudiya', regrets making remark after row

Congress expressed regret over its "gungi gudiya" remark on Maharashtra Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar, calling it a result of "miscommunication", after the comment triggered protests by NCP workers and sharp criticism from the ruling alliance.

In Short

• NCP workers stormed Congress office, Mumbai Police detained protestors and increased security
• Congress leader Sapkal called the remark 'regrettable', cited miscommunication, and defended intent
• Shinde and Fadnavis condemned Congress, demanding apology for insulting women of Maharashtra

A political row erupted in Maharashtra on Tuesday after the state Congress referred to Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar as a "gungi gudiya" (mute doll), prompting workers of the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) to storm the Congress office in Mumbai and raise slogans against the party.

The protest broke out after Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal addressed a press conference at Tilak Bhavan. Soon after the briefing, NCP workers entered the Congress office premises, shouted slogans and created a ruckus over the remark directed at Sunetra Pawar.

Mumbai Police later detained the protesting NCP workers and took them to Colaba Police Station. Security outside the Congress office was also stepped up following the confrontation.

Responding to the controversy, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar said she would give a befitting reply at the appropriate time. "When the time comes, I will respond appropriately," she said without giving much weight to the controversy.

SAPKAL CALLS REMARK 'REGRETTABLE'

Hours after the controversy escalated, Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal said the remarks on Sunetra Pawar were "regrettable" and attributed them to a "miscommunication".

"The remarks on Sunetra Ji Pawar that got posted are regrettable and were a result of a miscommunication," Sapkal said in a post on X in Marathi.

He added that respect and dignity for women remained paramount for the Congress and clarified that the party's post was contextual in nature and "not a personal comment against any individual". "It should not be interpreted otherwise," he said.

Earlier in the day, Sapkal had defended the expression, saying it was intended to describe Sunetra Pawar's public conduct rather than insult her.

"The issue is her conduct. If a person holding the post of Deputy Chief Minister does not answer journalists' questions, asks reporters to remain quiet and stays silent on key issues, then such behaviour is not appropriate in a democracy. Sitting quietly without responding defines the term 'gungi gudiya'. It is not an abusive or unparliamentary word," he had said.

SHINDE, FADNAVIS SLAM CONGRESS

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde condemned the remark, saying it was an insult not only to Sunetra Pawar but to all women in Maharashtra.

"Their minds have become corrupted, which is why they have insulted a sister. Sunetra Pawar is Maharashtra's first woman Deputy Chief Minister. This is an insult to every mother and sister in Maharashtra. Congress must apologise immediately," Shinde said.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also criticised the Congress, accusing it of lowering the standard of political discourse.

"They have stooped to a very low level. Since they are not getting attention, they are making such statements just to remain in the headlines. Maharashtra's political culture has rarely witnessed such a decline," Fadnavis said.

ROHIT PAWAR TAKES MEASURED VIEW

In contrast, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Rohit Pawar adopted a measured position, saying the statement should not be viewed purely as an insult.

He noted that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had also once been described as a "gungi gudiya", but had responded through her work. "It is neither entirely right nor entirely wrong. Indira Gandhi was also called 'gungi gudiya', but she answered her critics through her actions. Such comments should be taken positively," Rohit Pawar said.

The controversy has further intensified the political confrontation between the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the Opposition, even as the Congress sought to defuse the controversy by expressing regret over the remark and clarifying that it was never intended as a personal attack on the Deputy Chief Minister.

- Ends