Why DMK MP who made ‘Gaumutra states' remarks is a serial offender

The DMK MP whose ‘Gaumutra states’ remarks caused outrage is a serial offender. DNV Senthil Kumar on Tuesday caused an uproar after describing the Hindi heartland – in which the BJP prevailed in the recently held Assembly polls – as “Gaumutra states”. His remarks were later expunged by the Lok Sabha Speaker. But history shows this isn’t the first time Senthil Kumar has caused such a furore. Let’s take a closer look at what he said, who he is and his past controversies: What did he say? Senthilkumar, speaking on the J&K Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill in the House, said, “Union Territories always look toward becoming States. But this is the first case where a state has become a Union Territory. BJP has just won many of the state elections. When they are not able to win a state they make it a Union Territory where they can have control over the governor and can run governance through them. If they were confident of a win there they would have not made it.” “So people of this country should think that the power of the BJP is winning elections mainly in the heartland states of Hindi and what we generally call as the ‘Gaumutra states’,” he said “(The BJP) cannot come to south India. You see all the results of what happens in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra, Telangana and Karnataka. We are very strong there… You can never dream of setting foot there,” he added His comments immediately went viral on social media and caused much backlash from across party lines. He then apologised for causing offence.

“If it (the remarks) hurt sentiments, I withdraw them,” he was quoted as saying by Indian Express.

“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 said in a post on X. Who is he? What are his past controversies? As per Business Standard, Kumar was born on 22 June, 1977. He worked as a radiologist before getting into politics. As per Indian Express, Senthilkumar came to the fore during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. His win in Dharmapuri and his social media nous cemented him as one of the up-and-comers to watch.

Senthil Kumar in an interview earlier this year made some bizarre remarks about the gods and family planning.

“In the north, Shiva and Parvati’s family stops with Ganesh — only if you come down South, they know that they also have Murugan. We don’t know if family planning happened there,” News18 quoted him as saying. He later claimed he did not mean to insult any god. As per Indian Express, Senthil Kumar in July last year slammed a government official for holding a ‘bhoomi puja’ during the opening ceremony of a road project. “Do you know that you are not allowed to do such things for a government programme? Then? What about other faiths? Christians, Muslims, Dravida Kazhagams, or those without a religion? Call them all, call the father from the church, the imam from the masjid,” Sentil Kumar said. “Never contact me for such events … This is the Dravidian model of governance. Include all faiths if you are going to do such rituals,” he added. A senior DMK leader told Indian Express back then that the outburst “seemed deliberate and staged.” “In theory, no government programme should coincide with a religious event. People can have a religion but governments do not have a religion. So I agree with his position. But the way he did it, especially as an MP, turned it into a social media spectacle. It wasn’t clever politics.” Congress, BJP leaders slam remarks “Very unfortunate choice of words. Unparliamentary. Senthil Kumar must forthwith apologize and withdraw his comments,” Congress Lok Sabha member Karti Chidambaram said on X. BJP leaders termed Senthil Kumar’s remarks as “hate speech” and said the voters will “wipe out” the India bloc from southern India as well in the next elections. “Very unfortunate to witness an Indian MP making derogatory statements against GauMata & SanatanaDharma culture revered by over one billion Indians. Many, including myself, consider ourselves Sanatanis,” former Union minister Milind Deora said on X. “DMK must realise that its reckless remarks only weaken INDIA Alliance’s efforts in challenging BJP in the Hindi heartland. India is one, and there is no place for a north-south divide,” Deora said. “This is another example of hate speech. This reflects the frustration of INDIA constituents. Gomutra and Gomata are revered not only in northern states but also in the South. If they keep insulting Indian culture and traditions then leave aside north India, the INDIA bloc will also be wiped out from southern India,” BJP Rajya Sabha member G V L Narasimha Rao told PTI. With inputs from agencies