A controversial and deeply disturbing statement by Congress MLA Phool Singh Baraiya has sparked a major political and social backlash in Madhya Pradesh, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing him of trivialising sexual violence, legitimising caste-based prejudice, and exposing what it called a “polluted and distorted mindset” towards women and marginalised communities. The remarks, made during a media interaction and captured in a video that has since circulated widely, have triggered outrage across party lines and renewed debate on how public representatives speak about crimes against women.

Remarks that ignited a storm

The controversy erupted after Baraiya, a sitting Congress legislator, put forward what he described as a “theory of rape,” linking the crime to a combination of physical appearance, caste hierarchies, and religious beliefs. In the purported video, he made the shocking claim that rape can occur due to momentary distraction caused by the sight of a “very beautiful girl,” suggesting that such distraction could overpower a man’s reasoning.

“The theory of rape is that any man, regardless of the kind of mind he has, may be walking along the road. If he sees a very beautiful girl—extremely beautiful—his brain can get distracted, and then rape can happen,” Baraiya is heard saying in the video.

The statement immediately drew condemnation for appearing to shift responsibility away from perpetrators and implicitly placing blame on women for crimes committed against them. Women’s rights activists and political opponents alike described the remark as reinforcing harmful stereotypes that have long been used to excuse or downplay sexual violence.

Caste, beauty, and a disturbing narrative

Baraiya’s comments did not stop there. He went on to link rape to caste-based perceptions, claiming that women from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes are targeted more frequently because they are perceived as “very beautiful.” According to him, this perception is embedded in what he described as distorted religious teachings.

“Rape mostly happens to women from Adivasi communities, whose women are considered very beautiful, and from Scheduled Castes, whose women are also considered very beautiful. OBC women too are very beautiful, and that is why they face rape more often,” he said.

The MLA then advanced a claim that drew even sharper criticism: that certain religious scriptures allegedly instruct followers that having sexual relations with women of specific castes brings spiritual merit equivalent to undertaking pilgrimages.

“It is written there that if one has sexual relations with a woman of a particular caste, one will receive the merit of pilgrimage. With another caste, the merit of another pilgrimage is attained,” Baraiya claimed. He further suggested that since people could not physically undertake such pilgrimages, they sought the same “reward” by committing sexual violence.

“Now, they cannot actually go to those pilgrimage sites mentioned in the scriptures. So what option is given to them to get the same merit while staying at home? Catch these women and have sexual relations with them, and you will get the reward,” he said.

These assertions, particularly the invocation of a text he referred to as the Rudrayamal Tantra, were widely condemned as unfounded, offensive, and dangerously misleading. Critics argued that such statements not only malign entire communities but also misuse religious references to rationalise crimes.

Claims of research and a ‘library defence’

As outrage mounted, Baraiya was questioned by the media about the basis of his remarks. Rather than retracting or offering an apology, he doubled down with what many described as an even more bewildering defence.

He suggested that the controversial statements were either taken out of context or were not part of the recorded video, hinting that they may have been made off the record. At the same time, he insisted that his views were grounded in extensive personal research.

“I went to many places, I observed… I asked questions in many places. I made efforts. I went through many libraries. From there, I found this clue,” Baraiya said, presenting his comments as the outcome of inquiry rather than prejudice.

Rejecting accusations of impropriety or misogyny, he maintained that his remarks were being misinterpreted and claimed that he was, in fact, speaking in defence of women. “No, where is there any indecent comment against women in this? I am standing in favour of women,” he said.

This explanation only intensified criticism, with opponents arguing that invoking vague “library research” to justify such claims made the remarks more alarming, not less.

BJP’s political offensive

The BJP seized on the controversy to mount a fierce attack on both Baraiya and the Congress leadership. Madhya Pradesh BJP media in-charge Ashish Usha Agarwal led the charge, accusing the Congress of fostering and tolerating such views.

In a pointed post on X, Agarwal linked Baraiya’s remarks to the party’s top leadership, taking a swipe at Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. “On stage with Rahul Gandhi in Indore, Congress MLA Phool Singh Baria—this is consensus… acceptance,” he wrote, suggesting that the MLA’s mindset reflected broader attitudes within the party.

“It is now clear that the polluted, distorted, and frustrated mindset toward women and the SC-ST community is not just Baria’s, but the thinking of the entire Congress under Rahul Gandhi’s leadership,” Agarwal added.

The BJP also questioned the silence of senior Congress leaders, asking why no immediate disciplinary action or unequivocal condemnation had followed such remarks. Framing the issue as one of moral responsibility, Agarwal said, “A woman is a goddess, not a political tool. Such insult will not be tolerated. Shame on such a Congress.”

A wider debate on accountability

The controversy has reignited a larger debate about the language used by elected representatives and the responsibility of political parties to enforce standards of conduct. Critics argue that statements like Baraiya’s not only trivialise sexual violence but also reinforce regressive ideas that blame victims and stigmatise entire communities.

At a time when crimes against women remain a serious concern, many have called for stronger accountability mechanisms and clearer public repudiation of such views. The incident has also highlighted how caste, gender, and religion can be dangerously entangled in political rhetoric, with real-world consequences for social harmony and justice.

As the video continues to circulate and political sparring intensifies, the episode has left the Congress facing uncomfortable questions about internal discipline and public messaging. For many observers, the issue goes beyond partisan politics, touching on the fundamental values that lawmakers are expected to uphold when speaking about some of the most serious crimes in society.