DMK MP Senthilkumar used the pejorative ‘Gaumutra‘ jibe that is often used by Hinduphobics, including Islamist jihadists. Senthilkumar, an ally of Congress and part of the INDI alliance has a history of making derogatory remarks against Hindus and North Bharatiyas. Nothing better can be expected from an ally of Congress whose leaders abuse Hindu Dharma and spread their divisive agenda.

DMK MPSenthilkumar is a repeat offender

Senthilkumar has repeatedly made Hinduphobic remarks. In May, he spoke (archived tweet) at Dravida Kazhagam (DK), a certified anti-Hindu organisation, the parent body of the Dravidian parties, Salem conference. On this occasion, Senthilkumar constantly attacked Bhagwan Krishna and Prabhu Sri Ram and made propagandistic statements against the Mahabharat and Ramayana under the garb of rationality. He uses all of these arguments to extort people to teach ‘rationalism’ to their children.

Senthilkumar, a DMK MP, made controversial remarks about the demonisations of Sri Krishna and Sri Ram, using instances from epics to criticise their actions. He made a comment suggesting Krishna engaged in eve-teasing by taking women’s clothes while they bathed. He also cited the gambling incident in Mahabharat involving Draupadi to argue that women were treated as enslaved people. Senthilkumar questioned the mindset of the characters in these epics and criticised the concept of a woman being married to five men. He further claimed that in today’s context, Krishna’s actions could be considered eve-teasing, and he suggested that Ram’s construction of a bridge in Ramayana obstructed the Setu Samudram project. The MP’s statements have been labelled as Hinduphobic by some.

The DMK MP has repeatedly displayed his Hindu hatred. In July 2022, Lok Sabha MP and DMK leader Senthilkumar ranted against Bhumi Puja for a renovation project under the Prime Minister Krishi Sinchayee Yojana scheme organised by the Public Welfare Department. He had demanded that a Christian padre, an Imam and atheists be present in the event to maintain ‘secularism’. He even abused the Brahmin pujari. In December 2022, he tweeted against Bhumi Puja being performed on the land given by a Shaivite math for building a new bus station.

‘Gaumutra’ is a Hinduphobic slur

The demonisation of ordinary citizens for questioning the Nehruvian consensus & pseudo-secularism of establishment elites is increasing by the day. We are derisively called ‘bhakt’ for supporting the efficient Modi government; ‘gaumutra drinkers’ for asserting our love for the cow; our epics (itihasa) and Gods are routinely slandered as prostitutes (Maa Durga), misogynists (Bhagwan Ram), eve-teasers (Sri Krishna). Each Hindu voice that speaks out against this incessant propaganda barrage is an act of heroic resistance against a massive global network of anti-Hindu bigotry.

The term ‘Gaumutra’ has been used as a derogatory slur against Hindus, particularly by Islamists and their supporters. The Pulwama terrorist Adil Ahmed Dar, responsible for killing 40 CRPF soldiers in 2019, expressed his motive as targeting those who ‘drink cow urine,’ specifically mocking Indians, especially Hindus. The use of such language underscores the religious and cultural tensions underlying the Pulwama attack, which a Pakistan-backed Jaish-e-Muhammad terrorist carried out.

INDI alliance leaders normalise Hinduphobia

1) Topping the list is ‘Hindutvawadi’ Uddhav Thackeray. Thackeray used the ‘Gautmutra’ jibe multiple times. In May this year, enraged by the action taken by the BJP government in the Trimbakeshwar temple incident, Shiv Sena (UBT) led by Uddhav Thackeray Wednesday hit out at the BJP government, accusing it of practising a version of Hindutva that the party has referred to as ‘Gaumutradhari Hindutva.’

This March, Thackeray displayed his Hindudvesh (Hinduphobia) by using the ‘gaumutra’ jibe in the guise of targeting BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) while speaking at the Golibar Maidan in Ratnagiri’s Khed.

In October 2020, while speaking at the annual Shiv Sena Dusshera Mela, Uddhav Thackeray alleged that BJP’s Hindutva is confined only to Gaumutra and Cow Dung. He further went on to say that BJP spews the same gaumutra and cow dung on others. Attacking further, he said, “It is you and your clothes who reek smell of Gaumutra and Dung. What am I supposed to do?”.

2) In July this year, Karnataka IT Minister Priyank Kharge resorted to the derogatory, Hinduphobic ‘gaumutra’ during a Twitter spat with columnist and author Chakravarti Sulibele.

3) In February 2022, TMC leader Mahua Moitra made the ‘gaumutra’ jibe to mock the Modi government. “I am speaking this evening in Lok Sabha on the President’s Address. I just wanted to give an early heads-up to @BJP to get the heckler team ready & read up on imaginary points of order. Drink some gaumutra shots too”, Moitra said on X (formerly Twitter).

4) In April 2020, Congress leader Udit Raj used the ‘gaumutra’ jibe to mock the death of veteran entertainer Rishi Kapoor. He questioned why Gaumutra was not being used to ‘cure’ cancer.

5) MDMK leader Vaiko, who is part of the INDI alliance, backed DMK MP Senthilkumar and justified the latter’s Hinduphobic slur. He even agreed with the DMK MK. “I agree with his statement, he is correct,” he said regarding Senthilkumar’s ‘Gaumutra’ slur.

The language of INDI alliance politicians attests to their Hinduphobia. A self-respecting Hindu would never disrespect Gomata, but INDI alliance leaders repeatedly insulted Hindus and Hindu Dharma through their ‘Gaumutra’ slur only to score a political point.