0 months ago
NCP Protests 'Gungi Gudiya' Remark Against Sunetra Pawar; Congress Denies
In India, there is a state called Maharashtra where big groups of politicians work together to run things.
Two of these groups, the NCP and the Congress, are fighting over something someone said.
A Congress leader is accused of calling Sunetra Pawar, a very important NCP leader, a 'mute doll,' which is a mean name.
Sunetra Pawar is special because she is the first woman to be the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
The NCP says this is rude not just to her but to all women.
So, NCP supporters went to the Congress office and threw ink on a picture of the leader who they say said it.
They also brought a donkey to show that they thought the remark was wrong, and they asked for an apology.
The Congress leader says he never said any mean words and believes the NCP is making this up to get attention.
Other big leaders, like the Chief Minister, said the Congress should say sorry right away.
Now everyone is waiting to see what happens next.
The NCP protested at Congress's Tilak Bhavan office in Mumbai over an alleged 'Gungi Gudiya' (mute doll) remark against Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar.
Workers threw ink on Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal's photograph and carried a donkey, demanding an unconditional apology.
The Navi Mumbai NCP unit announced a separate protest at Shivaji Chowk, Vashi, at 6 pm on August 5.
CM Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde condemned the Congress, calling the remark an insult to Maharashtra's first woman Deputy Chief Minister and to women.
Sapkal denied using offensive language, called the row a 'calculated tactic' by an NCP that is 'invisible' despite being in power, and ruled out an apology.
- Who
- Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders and workers, Congress state president Harshvardhan Sapkal, and Maharashtra leaders Sunetra Pawar, Devendra Fadnavis, and Eknath Shinde
- What
- NCP protests demanding an apology over an alleged 'Gungi Gudiya' (mute doll) remark against Sunetra Pawar, including ink-throwing on Sapkal's photo
- Where
- Mumbai (Tilak Bhavan and Colaba) and Vashi, Navi Mumbai, in Maharashtra, India
- When
- August 5, 2026, with the controversy erupting in the days before
- Why
- The NCP says the remark insulted its national president and Maharashtra's first woman Deputy Chief Minister, as well as women across the state; the Congress denies the remark and calls the controversy a political tactic
NCP and Ruling Alliance
Maharashtra Congress
The 'Gungi Gudiya' remark
NCP and Ruling Alliance
Congress state president Harshvardhan Sapkal insulted Sunetra Pawar with the derogatory term 'Gungi Gudiya,' disrespecting Maharashtra's first woman Deputy Chief Minister and all women of the state.
Maharashtra Congress
Sapkal denies using any abusive or offensive language, insisting the comment was a political statement with no intent to insult.
Motive behind the controversy
NCP and Ruling Alliance
The NCP is genuinely hurt and outraged; the remark offended lakhs of NCP workers and demands an unconditional apology.
Maharashtra Congress
The NCP is 'invisible' and not receiving due respect from the BJP despite being in power, so it manufactured the controversy as a 'calculated tactic' to demonstrate its existence.
Apology and escalation
NCP and Ruling Alliance
The NCP demands an immediate public apology and a clarification from the Congress central leadership in Delhi, threatening nationwide protests and legal action if none comes.
Maharashtra Congress
There is no scope for an apology since there was no intent to insult; distorting a political comment in this manner is 'detrimental to healthy politics.'
Key facts
- Alleged remark
- "Gungi Gudiya" (mute doll)
- Person accused
- Harshvardhan Sapkal, Maharashtra Congress president
- Protesting party
- Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)
- Target of remark
- Sunetra Pawar, Maharashtra's first woman Deputy Chief Minister and NCP national president
- Protest locations
- Tilak Bhavan (Mumbai) and Shivaji Chowk, Vashi (Navi Mumbai)
- Protest date
- August 5, 2026 (Vashi protest at 6 pm)
- NCP demands
- Immediate public apology and clarification from Congress central leadership in Delhi
- Congress response
- Remark denied; no apology; called a 'calculated tactic' by the NCP
Quotes
Harshvardhan Sapkal
Maharashtra Congress State President
“Sunetra Pawar is Maharashtra's first woman Deputy Chief Minister. I can't understand what has happened to the Congress. In 2024, they similarly insulted our Ladli sisters by using derogatory language. The women of Maharashtra gave them a befitting reply and taught them a lesson.”
freepressjournal.in
“No abusive language or offensive comments were used. However, you may have noticed recently that the NCP seems invisible; despite being in power, they aren't receiving due respect from the BJP. So, this move was likely a calculated attempt to demonstrate their existence.”
republicworld.com
Sana Malik
NCP MLA
“It seems the Congress party has forgotten its own history. Similar comments were once made about Indira Gandhi, and the Congress had opposed them. Sunetra Pawar is also Maharashtra's first woman Deputy Chief Minister. We find this deeply unfortunate; it appears that the Congress has, in a way, abandoned its own ideology.”
republicworld.com
Sources
Related news
Sule Slams 'Gungi Gudiya' Remark; Congress Leadership Disowns It
NCP Workers Burn Harshvardhan Sapkal's Effigy Over Sunetra Pawar Remarks
Kakade Urges Pawar to Leave Congress Over 'Gungi Gudiya' Row
Maharashtra, Australia Plan Biomanufacturing Task Force for Joint Growth
Jarange Accepts Water, Continues Maratha Reservation Hunger Strike
New Daily Mumbai–Sawantwadi Train To Start September 3
Maharashtra Ministers Seek End to Jarange Patil’s Maratha Quota Fast
Maharashtra Land Bank Aims to Speed Infrastructure Projects
