Controversial Comments by Irfan Ansari on Sita Soren Fuel Outrage Ahead of Jharkhand Polls

As the Jharkhand assembly elections approach, a fierce controversy has erupted surrounding remarks allegedly made by Minister Irfan Ansari, targeting BJP leader Sita Soren. The comments, which are said to have been made after Ansari filed his nomination for the Jamtara constituency, have sparked widespread outrage. Sita Soren, who is challenging Ansari in the election, became emotional as she recounted the incident, clearly disturbed by the alleged insult.

Sita Soren accused Ansari of targeting her ever since her candidacy was announced, but she specifically condemned his remarks after the filing of his nomination, calling them deeply offensive. She said, “The comments made by Mr. Ansari are not only unacceptable but also an insult to the dignity of tribal women. The tribal community will not forgive him for this,” as she struggled to hold back tears.

In her emotional statement, she further explained, “Since my husband is no longer alive, he [Ansari]…” before breaking down again.

A former member of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Sita Soren made a high-profile switch to the BJP earlier this year following a family rift regarding the chief minister’s position. This fallout came in the wake of the resignation and subsequent legal troubles of Hemant Soren, her brother-in-law, who had previously held the post of Chief Minister before being implicated in a money laundering case.

As she became visibly distressed, BJP’s Nawada MP Vivek Thakur, who was with her at the time, attempted to console her.

In response to the remarks, Thakur criticized Ansari’s behavior and affirmed that the BJP would not tolerate such statements. “The BJP will stage protests not only in Jamtara but across the entire state,” he declared, signaling the party’s firm stance on the issue.

On October 26, 2024, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) took note of Ansari’s comments and issued a formal notice to the Jharkhand government, demanding a report on the incident within three days.

Alka Lamba, the Mahila Congress chief, was swift to denounce Ansari’s comments, calling them inappropriate and unworthy of political discourse. Lamba called for immediate legal action, referencing Congress’ strong stance on women’s safety, particularly after the Nirbhaya case. “We have enacted stringent laws in Congress-ruled states to protect women, and any crime, whether verbal or physical, should be treated with the seriousness it deserves,” she stated.

Lamba further emphasized that the Congress party would not support such remarks, regardless of who made them. “We strongly condemn any such comments. Whether it’s Irfan Ansari or anyone else, we oppose this. We demand legal action,” she declared, promising that the Congress would ensure justice if it came to power.

In the wake of the controversy, the Jharkhand BJP filed a formal complaint with the Election Commission, accusing Irfan Ansari of making offensive remarks against both the tribal community and widows in the state. The BJP’s complaint urged the Commission to prevent Ansari from continuing with his nomination and called for a criminal case to be initiated against him.

Sita Soren also took to social media to share a video of Ansari’s alleged comments, demanding an apology from the Congress minister.

While the Congress party has long positioned itself as a champion of women’s rights, such controversies have cast doubt on its commitment to truly empowering women. Critics argue that some within the party seem to treat women as mere vote banks, failing to show respect for their dignity and rights. Despite promoting slogans like “I am a girl, I can fight,” some leaders appear to continue treating women as if they are fair game for derogatory remarks.

The Jharkhand BJP seized on this moment to criticize Hemant Soren, saying, “It is shameful that you stand by in silence as those within your own party insult your sister-in-law, an Adivasi woman. If you cannot protect the dignity of your own family, how can you protect the rights of the daughters and sisters of Jharkhand?”

BJP election in-charge for Jharkhand, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, commented, “Those who preach love are spreading hatred. They insult mothers, sisters, and daughters every day.” Himanta Biswa Sarma, the party’s co-in-charge for the state, added, “Hemant Soren has said nothing in response to the insult against his sister-in-law because protecting the respect of an Adivasi woman is clearly not his priority—his vote bank is.”

This is not the first time that Congress leaders have faced criticism for making derogatory remarks about women. From Rahul Gandhi to Digvijaya Singh, the party has seen several high-profile instances of controversial statements. In the run-up to the Haryana Assembly elections in 2024, the party found itself embroiled in a similar backlash following vulgar comments by Congress MP Jay Prakash. This led opposition leader Bhupender Singh Hooda to issue a clarification.

Rahul Gandhi himself stirred controversy when, during the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Varanasi, he remarked that media coverage of Aishwarya Rai was excessive, while the plight of farmers and laborers was largely ignored. He suggested that media houses, controlled by big corporate interests like Adani and Ambani, deliberately ignored the struggles of the poor.

Similarly, Digvijaya Singh had to clarify a comment he made in 2013 about Congress MP Meenakshi Natarajan, where he referred to her as “100% genuine,” which was widely misunderstood. Singh later explained that he meant to compliment her, calling her “pure gold.”

Other Congress leaders, such as Sheila Dikshit and Abhijit Mukherjee, have also made controversial comments about women, from criticizing their behavior to suggesting that they should limit their public presence or attire.

Moreover, several women leaders from the Congress, including Radhika Khera, have resigned from the party, citing a lack of respect for women within the organization. These incidents illustrate a troubling pattern of disrespect and disregard for women’s issues within the party.

If the Congress party is serious about its claims of advocating for women’s empowerment, it must hold its leaders accountable for their words and actions. Otherwise, these controversies will only continue to damage the party’s credibility.

These repeated instances of anti-women remarks by Congress leaders are part of a larger trend where apologies and explanations are often offered after the damage has been done, as was the case with Irfan Ansari. Despite his initial refusal to take responsibility, Ansari later sought forgiveness after the controversy grew. Meanwhile, Alka Lamba, the president of the All India Mahila Congress, reiterated that the party does not condone such comments and stressed the need for action. With the model code of conduct in place for the Jharkhand elections, the Congress party is now reviewing its options for addressing the incident.

Source: https://www.oneindia.com/india/irfan-ansari-s-comments-on-sita-soren-spark-outrage-ahead-of-jharkhand-elections-3972725.html