Overview
- Phool Singh Baraiya said a man seeing a “beautiful” woman can be distracted and claimed some scriptures portray sex with women of certain castes as conferring pilgrimage-like rewards.
- The video interview went viral after BJP accounts shared it, intensifying criticism from party leaders including Mohan Yadav, Sambit Patra and Shehzad Poonawalla.
- State Congress chief Jitu Patwari rejected the remarks, stating rape cannot be justified or tied to caste or religion, as calls grew for suspension or expulsion.
- Baraiya did not clearly cite the texts when questioned and later defended himself by invoking personal “research” in libraries rather than retracting the comments.
- The row gained attention during Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Madhya Pradesh, while social groups such as the All India Brahmin Society also condemned the statements and urged accountability.