Bhopal, Jan 17 (NationPress) Leaders from the BJP in Madhya Pradesh, including Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, have expressed their disapproval towards senior Congress MLA Phool Singh Baraiya, who reportedly made a contentious assertion suggesting that certain religious texts endorse violence against women from Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) backgrounds.

The issue gained traction after a brief video clip circulated on social media, where Baraiya purportedly stated that, “some religious scriptures imply that harming women from ST/SC communities could yield spiritual rewards akin to performing a pilgrimage.”

While he did not specify any particular religion, his comments have ignited fierce backlash for seeming to validate sexual violence and for making caste-related claims.

In response to Baraiya’s statements, Chief Minister Yadav remarked that as a senior figure in the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly, he should avoid making such provocative remarks against any religious or caste group.

“Baraiya’s statement is utterly unacceptable. As a senior MLA, he must avoid such controversial comments,” Yadav stated when addressing the media regarding the politician's remarks on Saturday.

Additionally, the Chief Minister criticized the Opposition, asserting that the Congress party has consistently contributed to societal discord. “With Rahul Gandhi present in Madhya Pradesh today, we hope he will guide his party leaders to maintain social harmony,” Yadav added.

He further insisted that the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, should expel Baraiya from the Congress party to demonstrate his commitment to treating individuals from all castes with equality.

Reports indicate that senior Congress member Baraiya, who represents Bhind, made these controversial remarks during a recent interview with a local media outlet, a segment of which emerged on social media on Friday.

In the video, Baraiya claimed that a significant number of rape incidents in India involve SC/ST communities and the Most Other Backward Classes (MOBC). He then proposed that sexual violence results from misinterpretations of religious teachings.

He asserted that, “If an individual cannot visit a pilgrimage site, scriptures allegedly present alternative methods involving sexual relations with women from specific castes to achieve spiritual benefits.”

Baraiya’s statements have caused significant embarrassment for the Congress party, particularly as they coincided with Rahul Gandhi's visit to Madhya Pradesh to engage with families affected by water contamination in Indore’s Bhagirathpura on Saturday.