A political storm has shaken Madhya Pradesh following the highly inflammatory statement made by Congress MLA Sahab Singh Gurjar against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in a public protest organised by the Congress party in Ashoknagar district. The statement, in which RSS swayamsevaks were compared to “eunuchs”, has drawn harsh criticism from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), transgender people, and social commentators across the board.
Addressing the Congress’s ‘Nyaya Satyagraha’ on July 8, Gurjar, the representative of the Gwalior-Rural Assembly constituency, said, “Jo mard they voh jung mein aaye, aur jo hijre they voh Sangh mein gaye. Samajh gaye aap, ishaara hi kaafi hai” which is, “Those who were men went to the battlefield; those who were eunuchs joined the Sangh. You understand it; a hint is enough.”
The comment was made at a protest over the recent criminal complaint registered against Madhya Pradesh Congress leader Jitu Patwari. Yet, the statement by Gurjar overshadowed the essence of the protest, putting the political limelight on the Congress MLA’s words and inviting widespread criticism.
‘Nyaya Satyagraha’ and FIR Against Jitu Patwari
The ‘Nyaya Satyagraha’ was organised in response to an FIR lodged against Jitu Patwari in a strange and politically charged case of false allegations of violence on caste grounds.
On June 25, Gajraj Lodhi, who hails from the Ashoknagar district, claimed that he had been beaten up and forced to eat human faeces by local BJP workers, including the son of a sarpanch. Within a few hours, a video surfaced of Lodhi meeting Patwari at Orchha, where the Congress leader promised him assistance and even called the district collector, requesting immediate action. The video quickly went viral, calling forth public outrage and demonstrations led by the Lodhi community.
However, within 48 hours, the case took a dramatic turn. Lodhi submitted an affidavit to the local administration on June 26, stating that the incident had been fabricated at the behest of Patwari, who had promised him a motorcycle and monetary compensation. Acting on this affidavit, Mungawali police registered an FIR against Patwari on June 27.
The FIR contains serious charges in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) like criminal conspiracy, tampering with evidence, promoting enmity, and attempting to create discord in social harmony. The Congress party has dismissed the charges as politically motivated and has sought the withdrawal of the FIR by July 7.
Since no action was taken when the deadline lapsed, the Congress organised the ‘Nyaya Satyagraha’ on July 8 at Ashoknagar, wherein some of the top leaders, such as Patwari, courted arrest. It was in this protest that MLA Sahab Singh Gurjar had uttered this controversial statement.
Political Firestorm
The BJP was quick to strike back. On social media platform X, the party posted: “Nationalists joined the RSS and hypocrites joined the Congress. The RSS united the country, while the Congress divided the nation for power. One opted for service, and the other attempted to sell the nation for power.”
BJP’s media in-charge Ashish Agarwal wrote: “The Congress’s hatred for the RSS isn’t new. From banning the RSS after Gandhi’s assassination in 1948 to imprisoning thousands of swayamsevaks during the Emergency, their disdain is historic. Rahul Gandhi even compared the RSS to ISIS. Their insult today is not surprising. It reflects their deep political frustration.”
State Cooperative Minister Vishvas Sarang added: “This is not factionalism alone. It is a mirror reflection of the internal turmoil in Congress and a profound disdain for constitutional values. Gurjar’s words are not only obscene but also insulting to the transgender community.”
Transgender Community Reacts with Outrage
While the BJP portrayed the controversy as a slur against patriots and nationalists, the transgender community in Madhya Pradesh was incensed for another reason. The use of the term “hijra” as an insult by Gurjar has angered members of the community.
This is offensive and shameful,” said Priya Kinnar, a Gwalior-based transgender rights activist. “The MLA has insulted us with our own identity. Congress should apologise to the entire third-gender community.
Community members threatened to lodge a police complaint against Gurjar unless the Congress issued a public apology. “The same government that brought us honour is being insulted by the same Congress that claims to stand for justice. We want action,” Priya further stated.
Congress Silent, Allies Embarrassed
The Congress party is yet to come out with an official response to Gurjar’s statement. The silence has been interpreted as a silent endorsement, while some top leaders are said to be attempting damage control in private.
Interestingly, prominent Congress leaders such as Digvijaya Singh and Umang Singhar attended the protest but did not intervene or distance the party from the comment then. Former Minister Jaivardhan Singh, who was also present at the gathering, had previously warned that if the FIR against Patwari was not withdrawn, Congress leaders would surrender on July 8. The same day, Gurjar’s comment was a national headline.
Root of the FIR: Fabricated Story to Stoke Caste Tensions?
The FIR against Jitu Patwari has already become a significant political matter in Madhya Pradesh. The initial incident, in which Gajraj Lodhi claimed to have been fed human excreta, made headlines and a political issue only to be subsequently refuted.
In his affidavit, Lodhi said that Congress workers brought him and his brother to Orchha on 25 June, where they were taken to meet Patwari. He accused Patwari of telling him to spin a tale against BJP leaders with an assurance of payment in return. Under pressure and temptation, Lodhi said he framed BJP leaders falsely for causing caste-based anger.
Police have backed Lodhi’s affidavit with investigation records. SP Vineet Jain said, “The report of feeding human faeces was entirely false and fabricated. Our inquiry found no such incident occurred. In fact, initial complaints did not even mention such an act.”
On June 10, Lodhi had only filed a complaint over a motorcycle dispute. There was no mention of any faeces-feeding incident. This discrepancy, along with witness statements and Patwari’s viral video, led police to register an FIR under multiple BNS sections, including Section 196(1)(A) for inciting enmity and Section 237 for making false statements.
Congress vs BJP, The Long-Standing War Over RSS
This latest controversy adds fuel to the long-simmering political battle between Congress and the RSS. From the post-Independence ban on the RSS after Gandhi’s assassination in 1948 to recent statements by Rahul Gandhi equating RSS with ISIS, the Congress has repeatedly clashed ideologically with the Sangh.
This history is not forgotten by the BJP, which goes on to position the Congress’s aggression against the RSS as part of a larger “anti-national” agenda. In this framework, Gurjar’s statement is one more icon of disrespect for nationalist organisations.
Fallout and What Comes Next
The anger against Sahab Singh Gurjar is building. Twitter and Facebook are full of demands for disciplinary action and a public apology. Lawyers say the MLA’s remarks could be against laws under the Representation of the People Act if they are found to incite hatred or insult communities.
While the issue is being prepared to be raised in the state Assembly by the BJP, community activists have also said they plan to organise protests if Gurjar fails to apologise. Police officials also confirm that cases could be lodged under IPC sections of hate speech and public mischief if the community approaches the authorities in an official manner.
While it started as a protest to bring attention to an alleged political vendetta, the row has now developed into an embarrassment for the Madhya Pradesh Congress on several fronts. Sahab Singh Gurjar’s choice of language has not only attracted political onslaughts from the BJP but has also isolated sections of society whose votes the Congress cannot and should not lose.
Whether the party will discipline Gurjar or stand by him in silence remains to be seen. But for now, the focus has decisively shifted away from Jitu Patwari’s FIR and onto a divisive remark that has stirred anger across ideological and social lines.
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