NCP slams Congress over 'mute doll' jibe at Sunetra Pawar, invokes Indira Gandhi legacy
Synopsis
The NCP has turned a Congress social media jibe — calling Sunetra Pawar a 'mute doll' — into a sharp political counterattack by invoking Indira Gandhi: if Congress condemns such language today, why did it once condemn the same language used against its own icon? The question puts Congress's ideological consistency squarely in the dock.
Key Takeaways
NCP condemned Congress on 4 August over a social media post calling Sunetra Ajit Pawar a 'mute doll' ( Gungi Gudiya ).
NCP chief spokesperson Umesh Patil asked whether Congress was implicitly validating similar language once used against Indira Gandhi .
Patil demanded Congress retract the remarks and uphold dignified political dialogue.
NCP functionary Suraj Chavan said Congress in Maharashtra had 'fallen into the hands of fragmented leadership.' Congress had not issued a formal response as of Tuesday evening .
The Sunetra Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Tuesday, 4 August sharply condemned the Indian National Congress over a social media post targeting Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP National President Sunetra Ajit Pawar, calling the language derogatory and unbecoming of democratic discourse. The Congress post had asked, 'Sunetra Pawar, how many more days will she remain a mute doll!'
NCP's Sharp Rebuttal
NCP chief spokesperson Umesh Patil hit back with a pointed question: was Congress, by using the phrase 'Gungi Gudiya' (mute doll), implicitly validating the same disparaging language that political opponents once deployed against former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the early years of her career? Patil strongly condemned the remark and demanded an immediate retraction.
Patil underscored that while ideological disagreements and policy critiques are fundamental to a healthy democracy, language that demeans women has no place in public life. 'Democracy allows for intense debate and sharp criticism on policies, but derogatory language against women undermines public decorum,' he asserted.
The Indira Gandhi Parallel
Drawing a pointed historical comparison, Patil recalled that similar derisive remarks were directed at Indira Gandhi by her political rivals during the early phase of her leadership. He noted that Gandhi chose to respond through action rather than rhetoric — her decisive role in the Bangladesh Liberation War and her firm stance on national security ultimately earned her global recognition as a formidable statesman, drawing admiration even from political adversaries.
Patil questioned Congress' ideological consistency, asking why the party was now employing against a sitting female public representative the very terminology it once condemned as unjust and offensive. He pressed Congress to clarify whether its current usage amounted to a retroactive acceptance of the criticism that was once aimed at one of its own most celebrated leaders.
Party Functionary Joins the Critique
NCP functionary Suraj Chavan also weighed in, arguing that Congress had drifted far from the civilised political tradition it once represented. 'A woman's respect must be shown not just through speeches but through thoughts. However, with its social media posts, the Congress party's mental state becomes evident,' Chavan said. He added that the Congress in Maharashtra had 'fallen into the hands of fragmented leadership.'
The Broader Stakes
The NCP framed the episode as symptomatic of a wider malaise in political culture, arguing that the treatment of women in public life is a cross-party concern that transcends electoral rivalry. This comes amid an already fractious political environment in Maharashtra, where the ruling Mahayuti alliance — of which the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) is a key partner — and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi are locked in sustained political confrontation.
As of Tuesday evening, Congress had not issued a formal response to the NCP's demand for a retraction. Whether the party addresses the criticism or allows the controversy to simmer will be closely watched ahead of upcoming political engagements in the state.
Point of View
Both of which carry political cost. But the deeper issue is the normalisation of gendered insults in Indian political social media, where parties across the spectrum have been guilty. The NCP's outrage is legitimate on principle, yet the selective nature of such condemnations — typically louder when the target is an ally — means this episode is unlikely to shift the underlying culture. Maharashtra's fractured polity needs less performative indignation and more enforceable norms around gendered political speech.
NationPress
4 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Congress post about Sunetra Pawar that triggered the NCP's condemnation?
Congress shared a social media post asking, 'Sunetra Pawar, how many more days will she remain a mute doll!' The NCP called the use of the phrase 'Gungi Gudiya' derogatory and demanded an immediate retraction.
How did the NCP connect the remark to Indira Gandhi?
NCP chief spokesperson Umesh Patil pointed out that the same 'Gungi Gudiya' slur was historically used against former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her political rivals. He asked whether Congress, by using it now, was retroactively validating the criticism once aimed at its own iconic leader.
Who is Sunetra Ajit Pawar?
Sunetra Ajit Pawar is the National President of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction and serves as Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister. She is also the wife of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
What did NCP functionary Suraj Chavan say about Congress?
Suraj Chavan said Congress had drifted from its tradition of civilised political ideology and that 'the Congress in Maharashtra has fallen into the hands of fragmented leadership.' He argued that respect for women must be reflected in thought, not just in speeches.
Has Congress responded to the NCP's demand for a retraction?
As of Tuesday evening on 4 August, Congress had not issued a formal response to the NCP's demand that it retract the social media post and uphold dignified political dialogue.
