Woman MP slapped by Congress colleague? Athawale, Nirupam condemn viral video

A video purportedly showing Congress MP Shyamkumar Barve slapping fellow party MP Pratibha Dhanorkar during a bus journey to Delhi's Ramlila Maidan has triggered a political controversy, drawing sharp reactions from Union Minister Ramdas Athawale and Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam.

The two MPs were travelling to attend the INDIA bloc's rally at the venue when the alleged incident took place. While Athawale and Nirupam criticised the act shown in the video, Dhanorkar rejected the controversy, insisting that the interaction was casual and had been taken out of context.

Ramdas Athawale calls incident unacceptable

Reacting to the viral footage, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale described the alleged slapping as unacceptable and said the Congress must uphold respect for women.

Speaking to IANS, he said, "Congress leader slapping a woman is absolutely wrong. The Congress party should respect women, but its actions do not reflect that sentiment. Slapping a woman is unacceptable, and the person who did so should apologise. Raising a hand against women is never acceptable."

Athawale maintained that no circumstances could justify raising a hand against a woman and called for an apology from the person involved.

Pratibha Dhanorkar rejects controversy

Dhanorkar, however, dismissed the allegations surrounding the video, describing the exchange as a simple, informal interaction with a fellow MP whom she considers a brother.

In a statement shared on social media, she alleged that an ordinary moment during their journey to the rally was being deliberately distorted and circulated for political purposes.

"An incident that occurred very simply and naturally with a fellow MP, who is like a brother to me, while en route to that movement, is today being made viral on social media with a highly distorted mentality and in a wrongful manner. I strongly condemn this twisting and misuse for political gain of that simple incident, in which there was absolutely no ill intent," she said.

The Congress MP also accused political opponents of attempting to damage her reputation by giving the interaction a misleading interpretation.

"In politics, when opponents have nothing left to say about merit and work, they resort to this attempt to tarnish the character of a female public representative and drag her through the mud," she said.

Invoking the legacy of her late husband, former MP Balubhau Dhanorkar, she added that she would not be intimidated by what she described as malicious propaganda.

"But I too am the tigress of the late MP Balubhau Dhanorkar, and his teachings, his inspiration, and his blessings are always with me. Therefore, I will not be cowed down by such malicious propaganda; instead, I will stand even more firmly and courageously," she added.

Sanjay Nirupam slams viral footage

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam also criticised the video, calling it objectionable and questioning the treatment of the woman MP.

Speaking to IANS, Nirupam said the footage was from November 1, when Congress MPs were travelling by bus to and from the INDIA bloc rally at Ramlila Maidan, organised by the Congress and other opposition parties to "save democracy and the Constitution".

"This video is highly objectionable. Congress leaders should be ashamed after watching it. The video is from November 1, during the journey of Congress MPs by bus to and from the rally organised by the Congress and other opposition parties at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan to save democracy and the Constitution. It shows a Congress MP assaulting another woman MP, whom I believe to be Pratibha Dhanorkar," he said.

Nirupam said the incident had compromised Dhanorkar's dignity as a woman public representative and described it as shameful.

He also pointed out that both Barve and Dhanorkar represent constituencies in Maharashtra's Vidarbha region.

Dhanorkar was elected to the Lok Sabha from Chandrapur following the death of her husband and former MP Balubhau Dhanorkar.

The controversy has prompted contrasting responses, with political leaders condemning the alleged act while Dhanorkar maintains that the interaction was harmless and has been misrepresented.

(with IANS inputs)