Overview
- Phool Singh Baraiya was filmed saying that seeing a “beautiful” woman can lead to rape and claiming some texts describe sexual acts against SC, ST and OBC women as conferring “teerth phal.”
- He also asserted that many assaults are by groups, referenced cases involving infants as motivated by supposed spiritual rewards, and wrongly claimed a man cannot rape without a woman’s consent.
- The clip spread widely, drawing sharp condemnation from BJP leaders including Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Sambit Patra, who called for his suspension or expulsion.
- State Congress leaders called the remarks his personal view, rejected the cited interpretations of scripture, and asked him for an explanation, with no announcement of suspension or expulsion.
- After initially defending himself, Baraiya issued a video saying he had cited Bihar philosopher Harimohan Jha and did not agree with the statements, as scrutiny of his past controversial comments resurfaced.