A statement made by Congress MLA Phool Singh Baraiya from Bhander in Datia district of Madhya Pradesh has sparked a major political controversy in the state. His statement drew strong criticism from across the political spectrum as well as from social organisations. Baraiya’s comments, which came to light on Saturday, 17th January, were made during a media interview and linked the crime of rape to caste and religious beliefs, triggering widespread outrage.
During the interview, Baraiya said “Who are the most victims of rape in India? Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and OBCs. The theory of rape is that if a man, regardless of his mental state, is walking down the road and sees a beautiful girl, it can distract his mind and make him rape a woman.”
बलात्कार का सिद्धांत यह है कि कोई भी आदमी, उसकी मानसिक स्थिति चाहे जैसी हो, अगर सड़क पर चलता है और उसे कोई सुंदर लड़की दिख जाती है, तो उसका दिमाग खराब हो सकता है और बलात्कार हो सकता है – फूल सिंह बरैया https://t.co/7gPAw7KQfx pic.twitter.com/9VkTFCSNyF
— Anurag Dwary (@Anurag_Dwary) January 17, 2026
The remarks have been widely condemned for trivialising sexual violence and for dragging caste and religion into a crime that is universally considered one of the most serious offences.
Referring to a book he called Rudrayamal Tantra, the Congress MLA further said that some perpetrators believe that committing sexual violence against women of certain castes brings them spiritual rewards equivalent to going on a pilgrimage. According to him, this belief motivates such crimes.
Baraiya also made disturbing claims about how rape is committed, stating that it is often done by groups rather than individuals. Shockingly, he even referred to cases involving infants, claiming that such crimes are driven by a “perverted mindset” influenced by these so-called beliefs.
In one of the most offensive parts of his statement, Baraiya spoke about women being judged based on “beauty.” He claimed that while a man might be distracted by seeing a “beautiful woman,” women from SC, ST and OBC communities are targeted despite not fitting that description, because perpetrators believe such acts earn them religious merit.
His remarks also included the assertion that “a man cannot rape a woman without her consent.” He further said, “It is written that by having intercourse with a woman of this caste, you will get the reward of a pilgrimage. Now, if he can’t go on a pilgrimage, then what is the alternative? Have intercourse at home, and you will be rewarded…He will try to rape her by grabbing her in the dark or light. A man cannot rape a woman without her consent. That’s why four-month-old and one-year-old girls are raped. He does it for a reward.”
Congress distances itself from the remarks
The Congress party quickly moved to distance itself from Baraiya’s comments. Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari issued a strong statement, making it clear that the party does not agree with such views.
“No rape can be justified in any way. Anyone who commits rape is a criminal. It cannot be linked to caste or religion,” Patwari said. He stressed that sexual violence is a grave crime and that any attempt to explain or justify it using religion or social identity is completely unacceptable.
Social groups and BJP condemn the statement
Several social organisations also reacted sharply. The Madhya Pradesh unit of the All India Brahmin Society condemned the remarks, calling them deeply insulting to women and society. State president Pushpendra Mishra demanded accountability and said such statements should not be tolerated in public life.
The BJP launched a strong attack on the Congress, calling Baraiya’s remarks a reflection of a “criminal and perverted mindset.” Madhya Pradesh BJP media in-charge Ashish Agarwal said the comments were not a slip of the tongue but revealed dangerous thinking.
He accused Baraiya of promoting misogyny and anti-Dalit views by weighing women on the scale of “beauty” and describing crimes against Dalit and tribal women in religious terms. Agarwal questioned the Congress leadership, especially at a time when Rahul Gandhi is visiting the state as part of the party’s “Save the Constitution” campaign.
Agarwal demanded that the Congress either apologise publicly and expel Baraiya or openly admit that it supports such thinking. “This is not just about politics,” he said. “A woman is a goddess, not an object. Insulting women will never be accepted.”
The current controversy has also brought renewed attention to Baraiya’s past statements. In January 2026, he faced criticism for saying SC-ST MLAs were living in a “dog-like condition” under the joint electoral system and for opposing the idea of tribal identity within Hinduism.
Earlier, in October 2024, he was accused of threatening administrative officers over election-related matters. In October 2020, he had sparked outrage by warning that upper castes would turn India into a Hindu nation if Dalits did not “wake up.”
