The Monsoon Session of Parliament witnessed intense drama on July 28 as a heated debate broke out in the Lok Sabha over Union Minister Jitendra Singh’s remarks on Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir. According to The India Today, the Opposition erupted in protest after Singh, while defending the Centre’s development initiatives in the region, likened Pahalgam to a “bride with sindoor,” sparking outrage across party lines and leading to an adjournment of proceedings.
The controversy started during a debate on the alleged negligence of the Centre in Jammu and Kashmir following the tragic deaths of five soldiers in a terror ambush in Kathua. While responding to Opposition criticism, Minister of State (PMO) Jitendra Singh made an analogy, saying:
“Pahalgam ki maang mein sindoor bhar diya hai. Kya yeh nayi Kashmir nahi hai?”
(The sindoor has been filled in Pahalgam’s parting. Isn’t this the new Kashmir?)
This comment was immediately flagged by the Opposition as sexist and inappropriate for a parliamentary platform.
Opposition Walks Out, Demands Apology
Several Opposition MPs, including Congress, DMK, and Trinamool Congress members, called the remark “patriarchal” and “deeply problematic,” with Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi leading the charge.
“This is not a wedding ceremony. This is Parliament. Such analogies demean both the issue and the place being spoken about,” Gogoi said, demanding that the remarks be expunged from the record and an official apology be issued.
The Speaker of the House, Om Birla, tried to calm tempers and asked members to maintain decorum, but the ruckus continued. Several members of the INDIA bloc staged a walkout in protest, accusing the government of trivialising the situation in Kashmir.
BJP Backs Minister, Calls It ‘Symbolic’
The BJP, however, stood firmly behind Jitendra Singh, with senior party leaders asserting that his words were symbolic of peace and development returning to Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370.
“Those who are twisting his words are deliberately trying to deflect attention from the positive transformation in the Valley,” said BJP MP Nishikant Dubey.
Home Minister Amit Shah, who was present in the House, refrained from directly addressing the remark but reiterated that the situation in Kashmir has significantly improved under the current government.
Kashmir and the Political Battle for Narrative
The issue of Kashmir continues to dominate political narratives in Parliament. While the government cites increased tourism, investment, and law-and-order improvements post-2019, the Opposition accuses the Centre of silencing voices from the Valley and downplaying security lapses.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, speaking to reporters outside Parliament, said:
“Symbols matter. Language matters. We are talking about lives lost, soldiers martyred — not metaphors about sindoor. The government must speak with sensitivity and responsibility.”
Gendered Analogies Under Fire
Several women MPs across party lines — including from the Congress and TMC — criticised the language used in Singh’s statement, calling it reflective of a deeper issue in political discourse where development is often equated with possession or beauty metaphors that undermine the seriousness of governance.
DMK MP Kanimozhi tweeted (paraphrased):
“Calling a place developed because it has been marked like a bride is not just problematic, it’s offensive. We need to end such gendered language in politics.”
Speaker Yet to Decide on Expunging Remark
As of the time of publishing, the Speaker had not confirmed whether the remark would be expunged from the official record. Sources indicate that the matter has been referred to the Rules Committee for further examination, given the volume of objections raised by Opposition MPs.
What Lies Ahead?
With several more days left in the Monsoon Session, political observers expect the Pahalgam controversy to remain a flashpoint. The Opposition is also likely to use the incident as part of a broader strategy to corner the government on its Kashmir policy, women’s representation, and ministerial accountability.
Whether or not the remark is withdrawn or expunged, the incident has already sharpened the ideological divide in Parliament — and added yet another chapter to the evolving political discourse around Jammu & Kashmir.
