"Cheap, Anti-Women… Apologise": PM Modi’s 'Mujra' Remarks Create Controversy

Elections Edited by Updated: May 25, 2024, 6:37 pm

"Cheap, Anti-Women… Apologise": PM Modi’s 'Mujra' Remarks Create Controversy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi”s “mujra” remark at an election rally in Bihar”s Patliputra today has sparked a major controversy, drawing sharp responses from various political leaders, particularly from the opposition INDIA bloc. The Prime Minister, while accusing the Opposition of engaging in vote bank politics, made a statement that has been widely criticised as derogatory and unbecoming of his office.

“Bihar is the land which has given a new direction to the fight for social justice. I wish to declare on its soil that I will foil the plans of the INDIA bloc to rob SCs, STs, and OBCs of their rights and divert these to Muslims. They may remain enslaved and perform “mujra” to please their vote bank,” the Prime Minister said. Mujra performance is traditionally associated with courtesans.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was quick to respond, asserting that no Prime Minister should use such language. “What is Modiji saying? Is it not his responsibility to maintain the decorum of his post? We respect the Prime Minister”s post. His reality can now be seen. Do not show so much reality to the country. He has forgotten that he represents the country. What will future generations say?” she stated at a rally in Uttar Pradesh”s Gorakhpur with ally and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav.

Ms. Gandhi Vadra also criticized the Prime Minister over his allegations that the Congress is planning a wealth redistribution scheme that would take away women”s mangalsutras. “On some days, Modiji talks about buffaloes and on other days, he talks about mangalsutra. The problem of stray animals began during their term,” she said. Additionally, she pointed out that it is BJP”s candidates who are claiming the party will change the Constitution if it returns to power.

Tejashwi Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) echoed the disapproval, stating that the Prime Minister”s language has deteriorated with each phase of the election. “He is speaking a language that even his supporters do not like,” Yadav said. He also highlighted that while Modi refused permission for a caste-based survey, their 17-month government conducted one and provided 75 percent reservation. “I ask Modiji: which BJP-ruled state has 75 percent reservation?” he questioned.

RJD leader Manoj Jha expressed concern over the Prime Minister”s choice of words, suggesting that Modi might be suffering from delusions of grandeur. “I am not worried about what he (PM Modi) is saying, I am worried about him now. Till yesterday, we disagreed with him, now we are worried about him. “Machli”, mutton, mangalsutra, and “mujra”… is this the language of a PM?” Jha asked.

Congress spokesperson Dr. Shama Mohamed called Modi”s language the lowest form of public discourse ever used by any Prime Minister in India”s history. “Narendra Modi using despicable words like “mujra” for the INDIA alliance is an absolute embarrassment to the entire nation,” she stated.

TMC MP Saket Gokhale criticized the Prime Minister”s remarks as a revelation of his true self. “After 10 years of PR and a carefully curated image, Modi can’t hide his true self anymore. Such cheap language. From “Naari Shakti,” the man has now come down to using words like “mujra”. Scary to think what all he must be saying during his foreign trips as PM,” Gokhale commented.

CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat condemned the Prime Minister”s remarks, attributing them to the culture of the “Sangh parivar”. “Words that the Prime Minister has used in his latest speech in Patna are highly condemnable. I don’t know where he gets such words from. Must be his “Sangh parivar” culture. The substantive issue is that of reservations and the fact of the matter is that under the Modi government over the last 10 years, the rights of reservation have been severely diluted,” she said.

West Bengal Minister and TMC leader Shashi Panja also demanded an apology from the Prime Minister. “The use of the word ‘mujra’ by the Prime Minister of this country, who also is a BJP leader, against the opposition parties is disgraceful. He should apologize for the same and should refrain from using such words in the future. This is not our culture, nor ethos,” Panja asserted.

“Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is using the word “Mujra” in his election speeches. PM Modi has crossed all limits. He has fallen politically. This shows Narendra Modi”s anti-women mentality. He should apologise to half the population of the country by holding his ears,” said Congress” Supriya Shrinate.