Is Congress Indirectly Accepting the Past Criticism of Indira Gandhi? Asks Umesh Patil

Mumbai, August 4: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Umesh Patil has questioned whether the Congress is indirectly validating the criticism once directed at former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by using the term “Gungi Gudiya” against NCP National President and Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar.

Responding to a tweet by the Congress targeting Sunetra Ajit Pawar, Patil said that the same expression was once used by political opponents against Indira Gandhi and was strongly condemned by the Congress at the time as disrespectful and sexist. He asked whether the Congress now considers that criticism justified by using similar language against another woman leader.

Patil recalled that Indira Gandhi had answered her critics through her leadership, particularly during the Bangladesh Liberation War and through her decisive role in strengthening India’s national security, earning global recognition.

He stressed that while political disagreements and criticism of policies are natural in a democracy, language that demeans women has no place in public discourse. Patil urged the Congress to withdraw the remark and uphold a tradition of respectful political dialogue.