Bhopal, Jan 17 (NationPress) Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday expressed his strong disapproval of the offensive comments made by Madhya Pradesh Congress MLA Phool Singh Baraiya, labeling them as “disgraceful” and “painful”. The uproar began when Baraiya, during a media interview, made remarks linking rape to caste and religious interpretations.

In reference to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes (OBC), Baraiya claimed that women from these groups are “not beautiful” yet are disproportionately victimized due to what he termed a “twisted belief system” rooted in ancient scriptures.

In response, Chouhan stated to reporters, “Daughters are like goddesses. We cannot allow daughters to be divided based on caste and societal distinctions. According to our customs, any form of Maa Durga, Lakshmi, or Saraswati embodies our daughters.”

“Therefore, whether it’s a leader or any individual, they cannot segment the daughters of this nation into different castes or communities. How much longer will you fragment society? Such disgraceful remarks should not have been made. It is personally very distressing for me,” he added.

Chouhan also recounted a recent tragic event involving a girl from their region, noting, “Society reacts with outrage to such incidents, but soon after, people tend to forget. Today, we are allocating Rs 10 lakh for that girl, which she will receive upon turning 18, to ensure she has access to better education. Daughters deserve reverence, not disparaging comments.”

Baraiya referenced a book, 'Rudrayamal Tantra', asserting that offenders believe that committing sexual violence against women of specific castes would grant them “merit equivalent to going on multiple pilgrimages.”

“Who suffers the most from rape in India? It’s the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and OBCs. The theory suggests that if a man, regardless of his mental state, sees a beautiful girl while walking, it could distract him and lead to rape,” Baraiya stated in the interview.

“It is mentioned that engaging with a woman of this caste would earn one the reward of a pilgrimage. So, if he cannot go for a pilgrimage, what’s the alternative? He can engage at home and be rewarded,” he elaborated.

“He will attempt to assault her in both darkness and light. A man cannot violate a woman’s consent. Hence, infants and young girls are victimized. He does it for the reward,” Baraiya concluded, sparking widespread outrage across political spheres.