DMK MP apologizes for his “gaumutra states” remark, requests words to be expunged

DMK MP, DNV Senthilkumar, who stirred a political controversy by referring to the Hindi heartland states as "gaumutra states," issued an apology for his statement in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. The DMK MP withdrew his statement made in the House of the Parliament on Tuesday, aimed at the Bharatiya Janata Party over the assembly election victories.

"The statement made by me yesterday inadvertently, if it had hurt the sentiments of the Members and sections of the people, I would like to withdraw it. I request the words to be expunged...I regret it," said the DMK MP in the floor of the Lok Sabha.

The MP’s contentious statement stirred a major political controversy, that led to DNV Senthilkumar issuing a public apology, taking to social media platform, ‘X’. "Commenting on the results of the five recent state assembly elections, I have used a word in an inappropriate way. Not using that term with any intent, I apologize for sending the wrong meaning across," he posted on ‘X’.

Senthilkumar's statement was removed on the same day; his apology came a day later. "The main reason that the people of this country should think that the power of the BJP of winning elections mainly lies in the Hindi heartland states, what we generally call as 'gaumutra states'. You (BJP) cannot come to South India," said DNV Senthilkumar while participating in a debate on two bills related to Jammu and Kashmir.

The statement was criticized by the ruling BJP, who denounced it as a disregard for the 'Sanatani' tradition, expressing objection to the language used in Parliament. The BJP compared Senthilkumar's remark and the controversy surrounding 'Sanatana Dharma' that stemmed from DMK minister Udhayanidhi Stalin’s comments earlier this year.

The DMK MP’s remark has further added fuel to the raging north vs. south debate that has been doing rounds since the BJP bagged 3 states that went for polling in November. Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Wednesday highlighted an alleged “conspiracy” that has been hatched by Congress and its allies spewing hate against the Hindus and North India. Thakur launched a scathing attack on Congress and stated that the defeat in the state elections failed to create a dent in the grand old party’s arrogance.

Several Congress MPs condemned the DMK MP’s jibe and criticized the use of such language on the floor of the House. "We condemn what the DMK MP said. What the alliance partner is speaking about cannot be attached to Congress. We stand for India and respect all religions. It is a planned conspiracy by BJP to stop Parliament from functioning and divert from the real issues by doing this," said Congress MP Manickam Tagore. Congress MPs Karti Chidambaram and Rajiv Shukla also disapproved of the statement.