'Have Used This Before', 'Will Try To Avoid Using It Next Time': DMK MP Senthilkumar On His 'Gaumutra States' Remark

Hours after his remarks calling Hindi heartland states as 'Gaumutra states' were widely condemned, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP S Senthilkumar stated that he had used the phrase before and if it "touches" somebody, he would avoid using it the next time.

Speaking to ANI, he said, "I made some statement inside the House. At the time Home Minister & BJP members were there at that time. I have used this before in my Parliament speeches. It was not a controversial statement. If it touches somebody I will try to avoid using it next time. I will use some other words to mention that where the BJP is strong in getting their votes."

The Congress, said to be badly affected in the Assembly elections by Udhayanidhi Stalin's remarks calling for the eradication of Sanatana Dharma, seemed to quickly distance itself.

Congress MP Adhir Chowdhury said, "We have nothing to do with what an individual is saying inside the Parliament, it is his own statement. We respect 'Gau Mata', we don't have anything to say on this."

Karti Chidambaram, the Congress MP from Sivaganga in Tamil Nadu asked Senthilkumar to apologise for his remarks.

"Very unfortunate choice of words. Unparliamentary. @DrSenthil_MDRD must forthwith apologize & withdraw his comments," he wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).