'I Never Said It': Rajendra Pal Gautam Denies 'Bihari' Slur Amid BJP Fury
Congress leader Rajendra Pal Gautam denies using the word 'Bihari' after BJP leaders Ravi Shankar Prasad and Giriraj Singh demand an apology from Rahul Gandhi.
A political storm has erupted between the Congress and the BJP following alleged derogatory remarks made by Rajendra Pal Gautam, the Congress party’s in-charge for Uttar Pradesh. While BJP leaders have accused Gautam of insulting the people of Bihar, the Congress leader has vehemently denied using any such terms, claiming his words were twisted and taken out of context.
The Denial: 'Listen to the Full Video'
Addressing the controversy on Saturday, Rajendra Pal Gautam clarified that he never used the word 'Bihari' or referred to the state of Bihar in a derogatory manner. He urged the public and the media to listen to the complete video of his statement before jumping to conclusions.
To substantiate his claim, Gautam pointed to the specific phrasing he used: “in becharo ko kuch aata jata nhi hai” (these unfortunate people do not know anything). He asserted that this phrase was directed at specific individuals and not at the people of a particular state.
"First of all, I did not use the word ‘Bihari’. Strict action should be taken against the agency that quoted me. It should not have published the report without carefully listening to and understanding my statement," Gautam stated.
BJP's Outrage: Demands for Rahul Gandhi's Apology
The BJP has reacted sharply to the alleged remarks, with senior leaders claiming that the Congress leader targeted BJP National President Nitin Nabin and, by extension, the entire population of Bihar.
Ravi Shankar Prasad's Condemnation
BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad expressed deep distress over the incident, describing the alleged remarks as "shameful." According to Prasad, Gautam had said, "These poor Biharis do not know anything. They simply read out the scripts handed over to them."
Prasad defended the legacy of Bihar, noting that the state has produced legendary poets, writers, judges, and civil servants. He specifically called upon Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to apologize for the statements made by his appointee, warning that the matter would be escalated into a national issue if an apology is not issued.
Giriraj Singh's Warning
Union Minister Giriraj Singh also joined the attack, accusing Rahul Gandhi of using "cronies" in Uttar Pradesh to insult Bihar because he no longer has the "courage" to do so himself. Singh questioned whether Gandhi understood the history and geography of the state.
Invoking the legacy of figures like Chanakya, Guru Gobind Singh, Gautama Buddha, Mahavira, and Aryabhata, Singh warned that any attempt to humiliate the people of Bihar would have severe consequences, stating that the people of the state would hold the Congress leadership accountable.
The Root of the Conflict
The tension reportedly began after Nitin Nabin raised questions regarding alleged external funding received by the Congress party. The BJP alleges that Gautam's response—suggesting that certain people merely read from prepared scripts—was laced with regional prejudice, a claim that Rajendra Pal Gautam continues to deny.