Controversy erupts over BJP leader's use of The debate i against Cong leader’s mother on national TV
New Delhi: A political controversy erupted after BJP spokesperson Prem Shukla used a deeply offensive Hindi slur against the mother of Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput during a live television debate. The remark, made during a nationally broadcast programme, has drawn widespread condemnation from political leaders and civil society groups.
The debate in question, focused on ongoing geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan, took an unexpected turn when Shukla used abusive slur while referring to Rajput’s mother. The exchange quickly went viral on social media, leading to sharp reactions from opposition leaders and public figures.
BJP's National spokesperson @PremShuklaBJP hurls filthy abuses at an Congress spokesperson’s mother by referring to him 'R@%di ki Aulaad' on national TV. @BJP4India and the media are silent. If it was by an opposition member, They would have demanded his resignation by now. pic.twitter.com/Htx5czeXpL
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) June 1, 2025
Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate condemned the behavior of BJP’s Prem Shukla during a televised debate, saying that the BJP spokesperson regularly crosses the line of decency on television but today, he broke every limit of civility and respect by making deeply offensive remarks about Surendra Rajput’s late mother, which she found too shameful to even write. She added that if such words can be spoken on a national channel, it reflects poorly on the speaker’s attitude towards women in general, indicating the true character of the BJP. Shrinate expressed her disgust and stated that she supports Surendra Rajput in whatever action he decides to take, noting that expecting respect for women from BJP leaders is pointless.
BJP का यह प्रवक्ता रोज़ TV पर नीचता की हर हद पार करता है
— Supriya Shrinate (@SupriyaShrinate) May 31, 2025
लेकिन आज हर मर्यादा भंग हो गई. @ssrajputINC जी की स्वर्गीय माँ के लिए जो शब्द बोला गया, वह यहाँ लिख भी नहीं सकती हूँ
जो राष्ट्रीय चैनल पर यह कह सकता है - वो एक महिला के बारे में क्या सोचता है इसका अंदाज़ा लगाना मुश्किल है…
Surendra Rajput responded emotionally to the slur by saying that a mother is the same for everyone, whether she belongs to someone from the Congress, the BJP, himself, Prem Shukla, or even Bharat Mata. He asserted that by abusing his deceased mother, the BJP had exposed its ideological bankruptcy.
He added that when the BJP spokesperson ran out of logical arguments during the debate, he first began abusing Rahul Gandhi. And when Rajput responded with similar language directed at a BJP leader, the BJP spokesperson stooped lower and hurled a vile insult at his late mother.
Calling out the hypocrisy, Rajput said that instead of engaging in a rational discussion, BJP representatives chose to disgrace someone’s departed mother on a public platform. He said that by doing so, the BJP had metaphorically put their own mothers on the crossroads to be insulted in return.
Rajput also recalled that earlier in the same debate on Aaj Tak, when BJP spokespersons were asked about their stance on the ceasefire and women's safety, particularly in relation to BJP leader Vijay Shah, they deflected the question by bringing up Barack Obama and began attacking former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. According to Rajput, when he questioned why BJP leaders consistently idolize foreign figures as ideological mentors, the debate descended further into verbal abuse, once again showing the BJP's inability to engage with issues through ideas rather than invective.
He demanded that the BJP clarify whether hurling abusive remarks at his mother is an act of respecting women or of insulting them. Rajput pointed out the contradiction that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi was making ga speeches in Bhopal about respecting women, his party spokespersons were publicly using abusive language toward a mother during a live TV debate.
माँ तो माँ है सबकी एक जैसी है वो चाहे कांग्रेस वालो की हो भाजपा वालो की हो मेरी माँ हो या प्रेम शुक्ला की माँ हो या फिर भारत माँ हो।
— Surendra Rajput (@ssrajputINC) May 31, 2025
मेरी मरी हुई माँ को गाली देकर भाजपा ने अपनी वैचारिक दरिद्रता दिखा दी है। जब भाजपा प्रवक्ता के पास तर्क खत्म हो गये तो पहले तो वह राहुल गांधी… pic.twitter.com/rLsRbHooHb
Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party (SP) national president Akhilesh Yadav strongly criticised the incident, stating that such language reveals how BJP representatives may behave with common citizens when unobserved. Taking to social media platform X, Yadav remarked, "Those BJP members who cross all limits of decency on a national live Hindi channel debate and use such disgraceful language towards a respected opposition spokesperson, one can only imagine how they treat ordinary people in private."
Yadav further added, "The BJP’s frustration is now surfacing in the form of extremely inappropriate and indecent language. BJP goes as far as garlanding such spokespersons in welcome. Because of such individuals, BJP has fallen below even zero on the moral scale."
He also stated that such individuals lack any refined or cultured language skills, and by giving them a platform, the BJP exposes its own values. "Even mirrors must be turning away in shame now," Yadav wrote. The Kannauj MP concluded by saying, "The public no longer expects any ethical, familial, social, or linguistic propriety from the BJP. The BJP’s days are over."
जो भाजपाई एक राष्ट्रीय हिंदी चैनल के लाइव डिबेट में एक विपक्षी राष्ट्रीय दल के सम्मानित प्रवक्ता के लिए अभद्रता की हर सीमा लांघकर, ऐसी निंदनीय भाषा बोलते हैं, वो अकेले में आम आदमी से कैसे पेश आते होंगे या उनके साथ क्या करते होंगे, कहने की आवश्यकता नहीं।
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) May 31, 2025
भाजपाइयों की हताशा उनके…
No official statement had been issued by the BJP regarding the incident at the time of publication. The video clip of the televised exchange continues to be widely circulated on social media platforms, drawing public attention to the language and tone used in televised political debates.
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UDF leaders see local body poll trends as pointer to 2026 Assembly elections in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Buoyed by the strong performance of the Congress-led UDF in the local body polls, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said on Saturday that the front's results indicated the people had rejected the LDF government.
According to early trends, the UDF was leading in more grama panchayats, block panchayats, municipalities and corporations than the LDF.
The local body polls were held in two phases in the state earlier this week.
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Speaking to reporters here, Joseph said the people of Kerala had extended their support to the UDF.
"We could expose the LDF government’s anti-people stance and the people understood it. The LDF’s fake propaganda was rejected by the people. The UDF is moving towards a historic victory," he said.
He said a united effort, proper preparations, good candidate selection and hard work had resulted in the Congress and the UDF’s victory in the elections.
Asked about the prospects in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Joseph said the party was studying the matter and would comment later.
LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan said the results would be closely examined.
According to him, the government had done everything possible for the people.
"Why such a verdict happened will be examined at the micro level. People’s opinion will be considered and further steps will be taken," he said.
He added that decisions would be taken after analysing the results. "If any corrective measures are required, we will initiate them and move forward," he said.
AICC leader K C Venugopal said the results showed that people had begun ousting those who, he alleged, were responsible for the loss of gold at Lord Ayyappa’s temple.
"This trend will continue in the Assembly elections as well. It is an indication that the people are ready to bring down the LDF government," he said.
Venugopal said the UDF had registered victories even in CPI(M) and LDF strongholds.
"I congratulate all UDF workers for their hard work. Congress workers and leaders worked unitedly," he said.
Referring to remarks made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against the Congress on polling day, Venugopal said the voters had responded through the verdict.
"I do not know whether the chief minister understands that the people are against him. Otherwise, he does not know the sentiment of the people. The state government cannot move an inch further," he said.
He said the results indicated a strong comeback for the UDF in Kerala.
Asked whether the Sabarimala gold loss issue had affected the LDF in the local polls, Venugopal said the CM and the CPI(M) state secretary did not take the issue seriously.
"We took a strong stand on the matter. The BJP played a foul game in it," he alleged.
On the BJP's role in the local body elections, Venugopal alleged that the party operated with the CPI(M) 's tacit support.
"The CPI(M) supported the central government on issues such as PM-SHRI, labour codes and corruption in national highway construction. The CPI(M) is facing ideological decline, and the state government’s policies are against the party’s own decisions," he said.
Meanwhile, LDF ally Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K Mani said the party could not win all the wards it had expected in the elections.
He congratulated winners from all parties and said the party would closely examine the losses and identify shortcomings. "Later, we will take corrective measures," he added.
Senior Congress leader and MP Rajmohan Unnithan said the trends in the local body elections indicated that the UDF would return to power in the 2026 Assembly elections.
"We will win 111 seats as in 1977 and return to power in 2026. The anti-government sentiment of the people is reflected in the elections," he said.
Unnithan said the people were disturbed and unhappy with the present government.
"The trend indicates the end of the LDF government," he added.
CPI(M) MLA M M Mani said the people had shown ingratitude towards the LDF despite benefiting from welfare schemes.
"After receiving all welfare schemes and living comfortably, people voted against us due to some temporary sentiments. Is that not ingratitude," he asked.
Mani said no such welfare initiatives had taken place in Kerala earlier.
"People are receiving pensions and have enough to eat. Even after getting all this, they voted against us. This is what can be called ingratitude," he said.
Muslim League state president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal said the results were beyond expectations.
"The outcome points towards the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, indicating that a change of government is imminent. We are going to win the Assembly election," he said.
