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Indian Express
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Asking why Pahalgam women survivors didn't fight back demeans all women
The import of what BJP MP Ram Chander Jangra said, that the women who lost loved ones in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack didn't show bravery or fighting spirit, has not fully sunk in the country's consciousness, or it would have evoked louder protests. These women were not the 'Veeranganas' they were expected to be, Jangra alleged. 'Veerangana ka bhaav nahin tha, josh nahin tha, jazba nahin tha, dil nahin tha,' Jangra said. He wished they had been like Ahilyabai Holkar, the queen of Malwa, who ruled wisely in the 18th century and also led her army into battle. Jangra obviously expected these unsuspecting women to suddenly fight like Holkar or Rani Laxmibai, both of whom had commandeered their armies. But these women were in Pahalgam, peacefully holidaying, some of them newly married and on their honeymoon, when the terrorists suddenly struck and killed the men after ascertaining their religion. Jangra, a Rajya Sabha MP from Haryana, believes the tourists should have fought back and repulsed the terrorists, who were armed with the latest weapons and had presumably done the recce of the area for several days before choosing the site and their unsuspecting targets. Going by the argument that Jangra has advanced, should every Indian woman get gun training so as to be bravehearts – for you don't know when you will need it to protect yourself and your family! What Jangra does not talk about is that it is the Indian State's fundamental duty to provide safety and security to all its citizens, including women. Nor did Jangra exhort the government's intelligence machinery or the security forces to be more vigilant – and efficient. Instead, he chose to point out the fundamental duties of the women present. This then is the question many women are asking today: What do you, Mr Jangra, know about the courage that these women displayed in the face of a barbaric attack at Pahalgam – and will be called upon to display for the rest of their lives? Do you know the pain — and bravery– it takes to live with the trauma of seeing your husband, son or brother shot point blank, to watch them bleed to death in front of your eyes, and have no recourse available to prevent their death? What is more, by blaming the women for the death of their menfolk, Jangra was diminishing the magnitude of the senseless killings on April 22, the sponsorship of terror by Pakistan, and the use of terror as a weapon to settle scores in this day and age – which the Indian government has been emphasising. Jangra made his remarks at a time that seven high-level, multi-party delegations are out mobilising global opinion against terrorism and its backers. Any shift of focus away from the fact that the terror attack originated in Pakistan is likely to dilute the impact of the government's own carefully crafted initiative. There are those who believe that Jangra's words are only a diversionary tactic. With the Opposition stepping up its demand that the government answer questions thrown up by Pahalgam and Operation Sindoor, and call a special session of Parliament to do so, is Jangra trying to divert attention from the 'main muddas (issues)'? His words also reveal a mindset holding a deep prejudice against women — that ultimately it is they who are at fault for everything that goes wrong around them and must own the final responsibility. This mindset has no place in the India of 2025. Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged leaders at the NDA meeting on Sunday to not 'speak out of turn' about Operation Sindoor. Not long ago, it was a minister in the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh, Vijay Shah, who referred to Colonel Sofiya Qureshi as a 'sister' of Pakistan. The two women from the armed forces, Col Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh had been fielded by the government to play the lead role in informing the nation about Operation Sindoor, to the pride of many in the country. Had timely action been taken against Shah – he was even rebuked by the Supreme Court for his communal comments – Jangra may have thought twice before speaking out the way he did. Over the years, the PM has expressed his commitment to women's empowerment through the 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' programme, to women-led development, and to the safety and security of the last woman in the country as her due. That doesn't square with a BJP MP getting away with accusing the widows of Pahalgam of cowardice, and at a time when teams of MPs, non-MPs and security experts have fanned out to world capitals in a major government outreach against terror, of which India was a victim. It compelled the PM to speak powerfully about Operation Sindoor , of 'hot sindoor' coursing through his veins – as a commitment to avenge the death of 26 innocent men, and to bring their families some semblance of justice. But then, words which humiliate the widows of Pahalgam surely call for action which goes beyond a mere warning – and sends a salutary 'enough is enough' signal to all? And to the likes of Ram Chander Jangra, one can only say – please do not accentuate the pain the widows of Pahalgam are already undergoing, that demeans the women of India.
The Print
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Khattar protégé, serial poll loser—BJP's Jangra who said Pahalgam victims' wives ‘lacked warrior spirit'
According to a senior BJP leader who did not want to be identified, he was chosen as a 'perfect dhoti-wearing BC leader' to represent the Backward Classes. He was finally elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha in March 2020 because he was seen as the party's Backward Classes (BC) face in the state. Gurugram: Ram Chander Jangra, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha MP from Haryana who sparked a storm with his remarks on the victims and survivors of the Pahalgam terror attack, has never won an election. The 75-year-old fought many assembly and Lok Sabha polls, starting 1982, but never made it, despite trying for nearly 40 years. The leader told ThePrint, 'The BJP needed a BC leader to be sent to the Rajya Sabha, and it found a perfect candidate in him since he wears a dhoti-kurta, and looks like a perfect example of the artisan class of carpenters he represents.' However, Jangra has long been a polarising figure in Haryana politics, known for his outspoken nature. On Saturday, Jangra triggered a new controversy by suggesting that the women who lost their husbands in the 22 April attack 'lacked the warrior spirit', and that training under the Modi government's Agniveer scheme could have reduced casualties. The victims died 'with folded hands', he claimed. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and others party leaders labelled his remarks during the BJP's Ahilyabai Holkar Tricentenary Memorial Campaign event in Bhiwani as 'utterly disgraceful' and a 'grave insult' to the grieving women. The Congress demanded accountability, questioning whether the BJP endorsed Jangra's views, warning that inaction would imply Prime Minister Modi's endorsement. The BJP distanced itself, with Haryana spokesperson Sanjay Sharma saying that the remarks were Jangra's personal opinion. Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who is said to have got Jangra the Rajya Sabha seat, also made his disapproval known. Also Read: 'Pahalgam women lacked bravery, that's why 26 died with folded hands'—BJP MP Jangra sparks storm Political journey Jangra's political journey began in Haryana's agrarian heartland in Meham, Rohtak district. He initially aligned with the Haryana Vikas Party (HVP) under former chief minister Bansi Lal, before joining the BJP after HVP's dissolution in 2004. After years of electoral losses, he was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha in March 2020. His term ends in April 2026. The BJP leader quoted above said that although Jangra has contested half a dozen assembly elections and two Lok Sabha elections from multiple state districts, and finished poorly every time, he has had his 'political strengths'. Jangra's parliamentary record is excellent, with 98 percent attendance rate, surpassing the national 80 percent and state 88 percent average, according to the PRS Legislative Research data. He chairs the Haryana Backward Classes and Economically Weaker Sections Welfare Committee. 'In politics, it's not always merit that determines a person's rise—sometimes luck plays a role, too. That seems to be the case with Ram Chander Jangra, who lost eight elections badly, but was eventually elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha,' Kushal Pal, former professor of political science and principal of Indira Gandhi National College, Ladwa, Kurukshetra, told ThePrint. 'That said, one must admire his resilience. He didn't give up despite repeated setbacks.' Jangra's career is marked equally by a history of electoral struggle and provocative statements that kept him in the spotlight. According to information available with the Election Commission of India, his first contest was in 1982, when he ran as an Independent for the Meham Assembly seat, securing a mere 113 votes, or 0.2 percent of the total, putting him in ninth place. The graduate contested Meham again in 1987 as an Independent, slightly improving to 229 votes (0.34 percent), and climbing to sixth place. By 1991, Jangra had joined Bansi Lal's HVP and ran as its official candidate in Meham, significantly boosting his performance to 4,842 votes, or 7.08 percent, finishing third. In 1996, he returned to contesting as an Independent, this time from the Safidon Assembly seat, but his performance plummeted to 130 votes, landing him in 15th position. Jangra's ambitions grew to the national stage in 1998, when he contested the Rohtak Lok Sabha seat against heavyweights, like Bhupinder Singh Hooda and former Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal. He secured 4,628 votes (0.7 percent), putting him in fourth position. In 2004, representing HVP, he ran for the Karnal Lok Sabha seat, achieving 21,371 votes, but finishing seventh. His final electoral bid before his Rajya Sabha elevation came in 2014, when he contested the Gohana Assembly seat as a BJP candidate, securing a respectable 28,365 votes (24.23 percent), but still finishing third. His success finally came not through popular vote, but through BJP's strategic selection for the Rajya Sabha. Past controversies Jangra's penchant for controversy rivals his political persistence. During the 2020-21 farmers' protests, he claimed 700 girls went missing from the Delhi border due to 'drug addicts from Punjab', a baseless allegation he later attributed to 'people's gossip', drawing backlash and an alleged attack on his car in Hisar. In 2021, his Rajya Sabha anecdote about a patient uplifted by a 'young, beautiful nurse' was deemed 'indecent' by the Haryana Nursing Welfare Association, and his apology failed to appease critics. Before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he stirred outrage by suggesting Muslim artisans could have made India an AK-47 producer, a remark criticised for communal undertones. His comments on women wearing torn jeans as 'Europe's garbage' further invited criticism. Jangra's anecdotes, often targeting Haryanvis—like a story about a Haryanvi tying a thief's feet—have drawn accusations of perpetuating stereotypes. Close to former Haryana chief minister Khattar, but lacking a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh background, Jangra stands out in the BJP. The list of controversies sparked by him contrasts with his advocacy for the Backward Classes, making him a complex figure in Haryana politics. (Edited by Sugita Katyal) Also Read: For Haryanvi YouTubers, Pakistan is an ancestral pilgrimage. Jyoti Malhotra isn't alone
The Wire
26-05-2025
- The Wire
Perhaps, This is Why The Innocent Men-Tourists Died in Pahalgam
Menu हिंदी తెలుగు اردو Home Politics Economy World Security Law Science Society Culture Editor's Pick Opinion Support independent journalism. Donate Now Opinion Perhaps, This is Why The Innocent Men-Tourists Died in Pahalgam Badri Raina 13 minutes ago The historical-cultural point is unmistakable: it is the women who always spoil the broth, both within the kitchen and on the battlefield. Illustration: Pariplab Chakraborty. Real journalism holds power accountable Since 2015, The Wire has done just that. But we can continue only with your support. Contribute now Now, at last, we know why 26 innocent men, mostly tourists, died at the hands of terrorists in Pahalgam: it was not because there was an intelligence failure, nor because no policemen patrolled the fatal site. It was because their women did not fight to save them. Had these women studied the life and work of Ahilyabai Holkar, they would have become Viranganas (warrior women). Never mind that the cited Ahilyabai was not a warrior woman but an educationist and social reformer. A spokesperson of the ruling BJP further illuminated us (Breaking With Agenda, News 24, 10 AM, May 25) as to how women warriors like the Rani of Jhansi had 'fought the Muslims' and the women visiting Pahalgam apparently lacked such motivation Never mind that Rani of Jhansi actually did not fight against the Muslims, but alongside Muslims, against the British. It would have helped, according to Ram Chander Jangra, the BJP member of parliament, if the men who were killed had taken some 'Agniveer' training; still, the fault lay primarily with the women who did not strike it hot against the gun-wielding terrorists. It must be Jangra's view that women are far too strong to have needed 'Agniveer' training either. The historical-cultural point of this is unmistakable: it is the women who always spoil the broth, both within the kitchen and on the battlefield. This despite the fact that no country in the world worships as many goddesses as we do in India, which also we lovingly have christened 'Ma Bharti' too. Yet, rue the failure of these women to rise to the appellation we bestow on the nation. Despicably trashy as this read of the killings in Pahalgam is that India's mass mind has come to be so addled that there will be no dearth of men and women too, both among the populace and the electronic media who will know how to filibuster the gutter-speak of the parliamentarian away from the condemnation and chastisement it deserves. Quite recently, India's dashing minister of external affairs stoutly defended democracy as a system of government, and then the great strengths of Indian democracy in particular. What better proof of the strength of his thesis may be provided than that such voices like that of Jangra – along with Vijay Shah, who dubbed Colonel Sofia Qureshi as sister of Pakistani terrorists, and Jagdish Devda, who gloated how the Indian armed forces now bow at Modi ji's feet – are free to go berserk with criminal speak while voices that would curb their fulminations are reminded of limits on free speech. Who knows the truth of that conundrum better than Ali Khan Mahamudabad, now gagged from sense and sensibility? Badri Raina taught at Delhi University. Make a contribution to Independent Journalism Related News BJP Leadership, Haryana Women's Commission Silent on MP Blaming Women for Not Fighting Back in Pahalgam 'Mastered the Art of Degrading Women': Outrage as BJP MP Blames Women for Not Fighting Back During Pahalgam Attack Watch | Does the SC Have the Power to Gag Ali Khan Mahmudabad or Has it Overreached Itself? Ali Khan Mahmudabad Presented Before Court, Sent to Judicial Custody Till May 27 Learning Against The Grain: Perspectives from Ali Khan Mahmudabad's Former Students Ashoka Prof Arrested For 'Endangering Sovereignty' Over Post Criticising Jingoism, Sent to Custody Till May 20 Full Text | Ashoka University Professor Ali Mahmudabad's Posts that Haryana Police Calls 'Sedition' The Sole Reason Behind Ali Khan Mahmudabad's Arrest Is That He Is a Muslim The 'Statement of Objection' by Academics Against Mahmudabad Erodes India's Democratic Fabric View in Desktop Mode About Us Contact Us Support Us © Copyright. All Rights Reserved.
India Gazette
26-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Congress demands dismissal of BJP MP Jangra over derogatory remarks
New Delhi [India], May 26 (ANI): The Congress party has demanded the dismissal of BJP Rajya Sabha MP Ramchandra Jangra, accusing him of making derogatory remarks against the wives of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack victims while also calling out other BJP leaders for their insults against the army and those who sacrificed their lives amid the recent escalations between India and Pakistan. In a statement on Sunday, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge labelled the remarks by the BJP MP as reflective of the 'petty mentality of RSS-BJP' and urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take action against 'foul-mouthed leaders', including Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda and Minister Vijay Shah, who made 'insulting' remarks about the army. Kharge urged PM Modi to dismiss such leaders for the 'sake of respect for women!' 'There is a competition among BJP leaders to malign the victims of Pahalgam and our brave army. The shameful statement of BJP Rajya Sabha MP Ramchandra Jangra has once again exposed the petty mentality of RSS-BJP. MP's Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda insulted our brave army, but Modi ji did not take any action. MP Minister Vijay Shah made lewd remarks against our brave Colonel, but has not been dismissed to date. Even when the wife of the naval officer martyred in Pahalgam was being trolled on social media, Modi ji was silent. Narendra Modi, Yes, you say you have sindoor in your veins... If this is so, then you should dismiss these foul-mouthed leaders of yours for the sake of respect for women!' the Congress President said on X. Earlier on Saturday, the BJP MP Jangra, while addressing a gathering in Haryana's Bhiwani, made the controversial remarks about the widows of the Pahalgam attack victims, stating that the women did not show warrior spirit suggesting they should have fought back against the terrorists instead of pleading for their husbands' lives. 'They should have they fought, then there would have been fewer deaths and they (terrorists) would also be killed... They (terrorists) came here to kill and will not leave anyone, even if you beg them with folded hands... If you collide with them, then there would be fewer casualties,' Jangra said. He also invoked strong historical women rulers such as Ahilyabai Holkar of the Malwa region and Rani Lakshmi Bai, stating, 'We want to arouse this feeling of bravery within our sisters,' Jangra said He further stated that if the tourist had been trained under the Agniveer Yojana, there could have been fewer casualties. 'That's why the Agniveer Yojana was launched by the Prime Minister. If every tourist there had been an Agniveer, I think there would be fewer casualties,' the BJP Rajya Sabha MP said during his visit to Bhiwani on the occasion of Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Jayanti. Meanwhile, on Sunday, All India Mahila Congress President Alka Lamba, during a press conference, stated that Jangra insulted the widows of the Pahalgam attack victims. 'BJP MP Ramchandra Jangra insults the wives of those who lost their lives in the Pahalgam attack. BJP MP Ramchandra Jangra says- The wives of those martyred in the Pahalgam attack did not have the spirit of a warrior, did not have enthusiasm, and did not have passion. That is why they were folding their hands and pleading,' Lamba said. Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh posted on X, 'This shameful statement of Jangra shows that the BJP, intoxicated with power, has become so insensitive that instead of blaming the security lapse... in Pahalgam... BJP MPs are questioning the martyrs and their wives.' 'Why should the silence of Prime Minister Modi and the BJP leadership not be considered a tacit approval of these statements? Our clear demand is Prime Minister Modi should apologize for this shameful statement and expel MP Ram Chander Jangra from the party,' Ramesh said. (ANI)
India Gazette
26-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Congress demands dismissal of BJP MP Jangra over derogatory remarks on
New Delhi [India], May 26 (ANI): The Congress party has demanded the dismissal of BJP Rajya Sabha MP Ramchandra Jangra, accusing him of making derogatory remarks against the wives of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack victims while also calling out other BJP leaders for their insults against the army and those who sacrificed their lives amid the recent escalations between India and Pakistan. In a statement on Sunday, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge labelled the remarks by the BJP MP as reflective of the 'petty mentality of RSS-BJP' and urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take action against 'foul-mouthed leaders', including Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda and Minister Vijay Shah, who made 'insulting' remarks about the army. Kharge urged PM Modi to dismiss such leaders for the 'sake of respect for women!' 'There is a competition among BJP leaders to malign the victims of Pahalgam and our brave army. The shameful statement of BJP Rajya Sabha MP Ramchandra Jangra has once again exposed the petty mentality of RSS-BJP. MP's Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda insulted our brave army, but Modi ji did not take any action. MP Minister Vijay Shah made lewd remarks against our brave Colonel, but has not been dismissed to date. Even when the wife of the naval officer martyred in Pahalgam was being trolled on social media, Modi ji was silent. Narendra Modi, Yes, you say you have sindoor in your veins... If this is so, then you should dismiss these foul-mouthed leaders of yours for the sake of respect for women!' the Congress President said on X. Earlier on Saturday, the BJP MP Jangra, while addressing a gathering in Haryana's Bhiwani, made the controversial remarks about the widows of the Pahalgam attack victims, stating that the women did not show warrior spirit suggesting they should have fought back against the terrorists instead of pleading for their husbands' lives. 'They should have they fought, then there would have been fewer deaths and they (terrorists) would also be killed... They (terrorists) came here to kill and will not leave anyone, even if you beg them with folded hands... If you collide with them, then there would be fewer casualties,' Jangra said. He also invoked strong historical women rulers such as Ahilyabai Holkar of the Malwa region and Rani Lakshmi Bai, stating, 'We want to arouse this feeling of bravery within our sisters,' Jangra said He further stated that if the tourist had been trained under the Agniveer Yojana, there could have been fewer casualties. 'That's why the Agniveer Yojana was launched by the Prime Minister. If every tourist there had been an Agniveer, I think there would be fewer casualties,' the BJP Rajya Sabha MP said during his visit to Bhiwani on the occasion of Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Jayanti. Meanwhile, on Sunday, All India Mahila Congress President Alka Lamba, during a press conference, stated that Jangra insulted the widows of the Pahalgam attack victims. 'BJP MP Ramchandra Jangra insults the wives of those who lost their lives in the Pahalgam attack. BJP MP Ramchandra Jangra says- The wives of those martyred in the Pahalgam attack did not have the spirit of a warrior, did not have enthusiasm, and did not have passion. That is why they were folding their hands and pleading,' Lamba said. Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh posted on X, 'This shameful statement of Jangra shows that the BJP, intoxicated with power, has become so insensitive that instead of blaming the security lapse... in Pahalgam... BJP MPs are questioning the martyrs and their wives.' 'Why should the silence of Prime Minister Modi and the BJP leadership not be considered a tacit approval of these statements? Our clear demand is Prime Minister Modi should apologize for this shameful statement and expel MP Ram Chander Jangra from the party,' Ramesh said. (ANI)
