The scurrilous, distasteful and sexist remarks made by a BJP leader against senior Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat’s daughter and his election manager Dr Jayshree Thorat at an election rally sparked violent protests and an all-night siege of a local police at Sangamner in Ahmednagar district of western Maharashtra on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday.
Shocked by the “extremely derogatory, shameless, and disrespectful” language used by Vasant Deshmukh, an associate of former BJP MP Sujay Vikhe-Patil against Dr Jayshree, the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) came down heavily on the saffron party for degrading the level of political discourse during the elections.
At the BJP’s “Sankalp” rally held at Dhandarphal village in the Vikhe Patils’ home constituency of Sangamner on Friday evening, Vasant Deshmukh said: “She (Dr Jayashree) calls her father as father of all of us here. Sujaydada affectionately calls her Jayashree tai (sister). That’s our culture. But everyone knows about her in Sangamner taluka…..If we decide to hit the streets during election time, she cannot come out of her home”.
Incidentally, Sujay Vikhe-Patil – son of a veteran political leader from western Maharashtra Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil – was present when his associate Vasant Deshmukh made the statement.
“This pervert Vasant Deshmukh should be immediately arrested. The Election Commission of India (ECI) should take this matter seriously and take action against both Vasant Deshmukh and Sujay Vikhe," Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole said.
Seventy-one-year Vijay Bhausaheb Thorat – popularly known as Balasaheb Thorat –is contesting as the Congress candidate for the ninth consecutive time from Sangamner. His daughter Dr Jayshree, a cancer specialist, is managing her father’s elections as the latter is busy in the Opposition MBA’s seat-sharing talks and the campaign.
However, after the objectionable remarks made by Sanjay Deshmukh, scores of Congress activists laid siege to the Sangamner Taluka Police station from 10 pm on Friday till 6 am on Saturday demanding stringent action against Deshmukh and Sujay Vikhe-Patil. Some party workers also set on fire some private vehicles parked in the vicinity of the rally.
Condemning the “derogatory, shameless, and disrespectful” language by Sanjay Deshmukh against Dr Jayashree, Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole said: “Deshmukh has not only handed a threat to Dr Jayshree when he said ‘once we step into the battlefield, your daughter will not be able to step out of her house, but he has cast aspersions on her character. Sujay Vikhe was present on the dais at that time.
“Only BJP people can use such language about women; this is their culture, as demonstrated by leaders ranging from Brij Bhushan to lower-level party workers This is not only an insult to Dr Jayashree Thorat but an insult to all women in the state. The mothers and sisters of the state will seek revenge for this insult in the upcoming elections," Patole said.
On his part, Sujay Vikhe-Patil – who is likely to be a BJP candidate from Sangamner Assembly constituency -- distanced himself and the ruling BJP-led MahaYuti from Sanjay Deshmukh’s statement. “At yesterday’s rally Sanjay Deshmukh made an objectionable statement about Jayashree tai. During his speech, I tried to stop him from continuing his address. But he did not stop his address. Deshmukh’s remarks have nothing to do with me or the MahaYuti,” Sujay said.
Sujay however took serious exception to the Congress workers setting ablaze some private vehicles in the vicinity of his party rally on Friday night. “I was advised that there could be an attempt to attack me or torch my vehicle, so I went by an alternative route. The entire state has witnessed what happened last night. It’s a gross violation of the ECI rules,” the former BJP MP said.
Meanwhile, Balasaheb Thorat’s sister Durga Tambe hit out at the ruling BJP for its “double standards”. “On one hand the BJP and its allies talk of ‘Ladki Bahin’ (favourite sister) and on the other they abuse a daughter in such demeaning terms. Politics has stooped to a new low and the incident must be probed,” she said.
Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly Vijay Wadettiwar said that never before in the history had a woman been subjected to such abuses in the birthplace of the legendary social reformer Savitribai Phule.
“On one hand they go around asking for votes from women in the name of ‘Ladki Bahin’ scheme, while on the other they denigrate the women publicly. If someone uses such derogatory language about our mothers or sisters, can the family members remain silent? The time has come to rid the state of people with such disgusting thinking,” Wadettiwar said.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut accused the BJP of bringing down the level of political debate to such new depths. “This is an insult to the women in the entire Maharashtra. The BJP wants to create riots in the state before the November 20 State Assembly elections,” Raut said.
Maharashtra Congress’ Chief Spokesperson Atul Londhe demanded to know from the BJP as to how a person ( Sanjay Deshmukh) with a deranged mentality was allowed to speak on the stage”
