New Delhi: Two days after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member of parliament Ram Chander Jangra drew criticism for blaming women present during the Pahalgam terror attack for not fighting back and lacking bravery, there has been continued silence from the party's top leadership. The Haryana State Commission for Women, which was quick to file a complaint against Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad for his Facebook post, has also remained silent and not announced any action against the parliamentarian yet.

This, as the BJP’s top leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have continued their speeches laden with symbolism of avenging the women whose sindoor (vermilion) was snatched in the April 22 Pahalgam attack.

On Saturday, Jangra, a BJP MP from Haryana, said: “The brave women we had there, whose sindoor was snatched away – they lacked the spirit of a warrior woman, lacked passion, emotion, heart, and so, with folded hands, they became victims of bullets.”

On Sunday, Jangra said that his statement was only to motivate women to take inspiration from Ahilyabai Holkar’s life.

"I have already clarified my position on the matter. It was the birth anniversary programme of our immortal brave heart, Ahilyabai Holkar ji, and I was highlighting aspects of her life,” he said to reporters on Sunday. 

“I said that we need to take inspiration from her life, and in that context, I made the statement in a motivational manner that in today’s time, it is important to live like our brave women. There was no other motivation behind my statement. They were terrorists, they had come to kill. I just wanted to say in a motivational way about Ahilyabai's life and about taking inspiration from her,” he said.

“There has been a clarification from Jangra and it is clear that the party does not condone such statements,” said Shazia Ilmi, BJP national spokesperson to The Wire.

‘Not party’s view’

The only public statement from the BJP on Jangra’s remarks came from Union minister Mahohar Lal Khattar who said on Sunday that Jangra’s statement was not the party’s view and the “matter should be put to rest”.

"This isn't about the party, it may be his personal opinion. He has also issued a clarification. He said his intention was to encourage women to become brave warriors too, but his words were in the wrong context,” said Khattar on the sidelines of an event in Karnal. 

“It is not appropriate to make such remarks about our sisters who have lost their sindoor (husbands). It's wrong, and for those whose sentiments were hurt, Jangra ji has certainly expressed regret from his side, and I also believe that this matter should now be put to rest,” he said.

While the BJP’s top leadership has remained silent, Modi on Monday continued to claim the success of Operation Sindoor and how they avenged the women who lost their husbands in the Pahalgam attack.

Speaking in Gujarat’s Dahod, Modi said that “those who wipe the sindoor off our daughters, will also be wiped out”, but did not make any mention of his party leaders’ statements.

Meanwhile, Renu Bhatia, the Haryana State Commission for Women chairperson, who had filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Ashoka University’s professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad for his anti-war posts, leading to his subsequent arrest, has also not initiated any action against Jarang at the time of filing this report. 

The Wire has reached out to Renu Bhatia, the chairperson, Haryana State Commission for Women on whether the body has initiated any action or has plans to do so. This report will be updated when a response is received.

Prior to Jangra, Madhya Pradesh minister Vijay Shah too had drawn criticism for his remarks directed at Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, who, along with Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, had fronted the Union government’s briefings during Operation Sindoor. Shah, who had referred to Qureshi as “sister of terrorists”, alluding to her Muslim identity, continues to remain in office and has not yet faced any action from the party despite the Supreme Court ordering an investigation of the first information report against him, rejecting his apology.

“These irresponsible statements by some leaders are not the views of the party, whether it is Vijay Shah or Jangra. The party respects women, as was seen by the actions of the government of India even during the briefings of Operation Sindoor, which was led by two women officers,” said Ilmi to The Wire.

The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.