Bengaluru: Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya has landed in a row for a tweet he had posted in 2015 with an “objectionable” comment about Arab women. The tweet was highlighted by various prominent citizens of Arab nations Sunday, following which the BJP MP deleted it.
Among the first to call out Surya was Dubai-based businesswoman Noora AlGhurair, who said she “pitied his upbringing that has taught him to disrespect women”. She also warned him against “travelling to Arab lands if he is ever bestowed a foreign ministry”.
Pity Ur upbringing @Tejasvi_Surya that respect for women couldn’t be instilled in U despite India having some great female leaders .Please note if someday the govt bestows a foreign ministry to you, avoid travelling to Arab lands. You are not welcome here. This will be remembered pic.twitter.com/KJJlqJL5tR
— Noora AlGhurair (@AlGhurair98) April 19, 2020
It was soon picked up by other prominent Arab Twitter handles, some of whom tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
@PMOIndia Respected Prime minister @narendramodi India's relation with the Arab world has been that of mutual respect. Do you allow your parliamentarian to publicly humiliate our women? We expect your urgent punitive action against @Tejasvi_Surya for his disgraceful comment. pic.twitter.com/emymJrc5aU
— المحامي⚖مجبل الشريكة (@MJALSHRIKA) April 19, 2020
The tweet had earlier been circulated on social media when Surya contested the Lok Sabha elections in 2019 but it did not gain much traction then. The issue snowballed after AlGhurair, who has been very vocal about the way Muslims are being treated in India, highlighted it once again.
Several prominent social media handles in the Arab nations have been of late calling out “ill-treatment” of Muslims in India.
The Surya controversy comes on the back of Princess Hend Al Qassimi, a member of the royal family of United Arab Emirates, warning that Indians who work in the UAE and post ‘Islamophobic’ content on social media will be deported.
A number of Indians working in the Middle East have already been sacked in the recent past for objectionable social media posts.
ThePrint tried to reach out to Surya for his comment on the controversy but all the calls went unanswered. This report will be updated when he responds.
Past controversies involving MP Surya
The BJP MP had been called out for the same tweet in 2015 too. Among those who had slammed him back then was Karnataka Congress leader Y.B. Srivatsa, who had called it “cheap”.
“He (Surya) used to put out a lot of such comments claiming they are quotes of others. When I called him out then, he claimed he was merely quoting Tarek Fatah, a Pakistani-Canadian journalist-author,” Srivatsa told ThePrint.
“It is his way to push his type of ideology but the fact that he tweeted it only means Surya endorses what Fatah has said.”
Srivatsa added that such tweets could cause problems to Indians working in the Middle East as there “are several young Surya followers who have been posting venomous comments against Arabs while working in the Emirates”.
“Old utterances are also being culled out and that is how Surya’s sexist comments came to light,” the Congress leader said. “While it shows how people of the Sangh Parivar view such things, it will also cause problems to Indians living in the Middle East.”
BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje was also of the same opinion. “Indians work all across the world. As responsible citizens, we should ensure we do not make comments that can hurt or affect our fellow Indians,” she told ThePrint.
Handpicked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to contest from Bengaluru South, Surya has landed in trouble several times for his tweets. He once posted that he “dreads” the day when women reservation will become a reality. Surya deleted a tweet within 24 hours of being named as the BJP candidate in 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
“With the exception of Womens’ Reservation in Parliament, Modi govt agenda is inspiring. Dread d day when women’s reservation becomes reality,” he had said in the now-deleted tweet.
Also read: PM Modi, here are my five questions to you as India fights the coronavirus
This is worse to comment about a women, have some respect towards women tejasvi surya even u have come through a women that is from u r mother. You are a RSS goon we know that. Play u r card’s but not in the name of women’s or children’s especially Muslims or else we all gonna suffer from u r shit political agenda. We know what state women’s are in India & your RSS goons did in Gujrat n recently in Delhi riots how Muslim women treated. So be aware of it. Talk on developmental issues n help to bring country in the level of developed nations. Don’t make us to feel shame due to u r disrespectful tweets…
dude, know the facts first before puking out your frustration. Its a 5 years old post by tarek fateh which Surya quoted on a completely different context 5 years back.
Mr Anil: Whilst noting that you pooh-pooh this cretin’s bigoted behaviour, may I ask you if such behaviour is to be expected from a public figure ?
Where is the need to quote even it’s 100 years old.
He even tweeted about women reservation will be dreadful, and immediately deleted…
It doesnt matter tweet is old or new
It only shows your upbringing and mentality.
Absurd comment…
Shame on you…
This is worse to comment about a women, have some respect towards women tejasvi surya even u have come through a women that is from u r mother. You are a RSS goon we know that. Play u r card’s but not in the name of women’s or children’s especially Muslims or else we all gonna suffer from u r shit political agenda. We know what state women’s are in India & your RSS goons did in Gujrat n recently in Delhi riots how Muslim women treated. So be aware of it. Talk on developmental issues n help to bring country in the level of developed nations. Don’t make us to feel shame due to u r disrespectful tweets.
A child born out of love between parents will always spread love
And a child born out of hatred between parents will spread hatred
@karan singh …Why people of india are now showing their hatred for muslims .. why not before bjp govt. Please respect for humanity first . I don’t think persons without humanity should be given a right to follow any religion. Because teaches to respect humanity first. And you cannot feel what indian Muslim’s are feeling right now. So please keep your mouth shut. Or if have that much strength then go to arab and ask them the same. It’s easy to sit in your comfortable bed and mock. And don’t tell the people to stop digging up the ancient grave. When people like you always do the same to hold power over a less powerful person
Dear mam I respect you our recent govt has passed the bill did you read it. A men marry one women but make many illicit relationship. Uni gender / same gender can marry is legal. Two gay people can marriage, is your view this decision made by the current government is correct do you accept. In islam if we marry 4 women / less from our property we have distribute equal to all children was born with 4 wife’s are less . In Indian culture bride have to give money, property, gold and utensils etc. Perhaps in islam n gulf the rules is reversed. I respect and love country mera bharat mahan. Even though I couldn’t tolerate such statements given by a respectful positions gained by voting Karnataka state public and you are encouraging such statements holders.
What’s wrong Mr. Surya or Mr. Farah said …in Arab countries they follow Sharia law n their dhram guru has many times say that there women are only mammals to breeding and for maid purpose only that’s why a man can marry 4 women and even more in his life time, even in Arab countries a woman cav
You have no idea of what you are talking about. So better keep quiet!
do u know the logic of having four wives in Islam, with great respect and with profound gratitude i a tell you go through the book of Sharia law.
Mr Asadulla: Whilst I deeply disagree with Ms Priya’s bigoted comment above, your defence of a barbaric, mediaeval set of “legal system” that is so profoundly stacked against 50% of humanity viz. women is equally deplorable. Sharia has not evolved with times and perhaps never will and in reality, few Islamic countries are able to stretch this grotesque system coherently. Indeed, even in Saudi Arabia, the same crime or the same dispute gets different verdicts depending on the judge who presides. And since you sing praises to this nonsense, perhaps you might begin by answering whether the evidence given by a woman has the same weightage as the evidence given by a man in a Sharia court.
No they don’t give same weightage.
i doubt you being a women.
Don’t embarrass yourself..
R u woman first of all. If no it ok for you. And if yes God forgive u are no less than a b…h
Ms Priya: Your rant:
“a man can marry 4 women and even more in his life time, even in Arab countries”
begs the question:
Is polygamy only practised by Muslim men ? The answer is a resounding NO !
Plenty of Indian Hindus and Christians have multiple wives. Indeed, in Tamilnadu, the concept of “chinna veedu” or “small house” still holds sway. The chinna veedu being a secondary household established by a married man who takes on a second wife. Indeed, in the very street I grew up in Madras in the 70s, out of about 15 households, there was 1 Hindu “chinna veedu” and 2 Christian “chinna veedus” !! Interestingly, the only Muslim household in the street was NOT polygamous !!
And as regards your claim that Arab countries follow Sharai law, well, that is not entirely true. Most Arab countries were either British or French colonies and they follow a mixture of predominantly European law with elements of Sharia thrown in family law. Saudi Arabia might be an exception to this trend but it too, realises the sever limitation of Shariah in many fields.
And since you speak approvingly of Tejaswi’s cretinous and tremedously premature oral ejaculations and his tendency to indulge in open defaecation through his mouth, well, I must simply observe that
“Birds of a feather flock together ” !!
Polygamy in Hindus is not allowed and punishable. Illicit relations are not lawful marriages. Small house is not lawful among hinduism.
It took 5yrs for them to react to the fact!! Well if u don’t have any work then search doe skeletons in the cupboard!!! But then every1 knows how that religion treats women in particular
Does it matter that they woke up after 5 years better late than never.
Ms Mahaswetha: Which religion according to you treats women best ?
These are the type of people we elect to govern us. God help us
Raking up old tweet and making an nation level controversy does look like an conspiracy.
This frequently happening to Hindu Right Wing just makes me believe more.
Hahaha theirs no controversy involved , hope you believe in Karma, this is how it acts.
The people who believe that the woman should be thrown in the fire immediately after death of her husband are talking about the orgasm of the women and sexual satisfaction. The Arabs are not curd rice eaters. He should note this point.
Tejasvi Surya is a right wing bigot. It is also possible that the comment he made hits close to his household.
Dear Readers, living hear in Gulf last 30 years seen the situation if female and children are 1000% better than india where majority of female lives worst than animals.
Tejsvi Surya instead of poking his nose in other countries should see Indian women condition in poor , adivasi and backward Hindus. We will be happy if will uplift 1% of them. I request PM Modi to through him out of party and parliament to control the damage done by him internationally.
A woman who is treated as a second class human being with neither equality nor liberty is giving lectures to Indian Parliamentarians about women’s rights?
Tejasvi Surya can become Foreign Minister of India – she however will always be a second class citizen and never be foreign minister , no matter how much she tries…because her people and country is neither a democracy nor a constitutional republic!
You cant respect women who dont respect themselves!
What are you talking there are many women holding ministerial and diplomatic positions in the Arab world.
The Real Disgusting character of MP is exposed.
Doesnt matter tweet is old or new
Tejasvi surya…
It only shows your upbringing…
Absurd comment…
INDIA is embarrassed numerous times after 2014 MODI =RSS Govt fascist hindutva agenda came into power.
It would be more appealing, to the citizens of our country, if Tejasvi does an in-depth analysis of the child marriages in several backwards regions, Dowry cruelty towards the women, cases of Domestic violence upon our sisters, acts of honor killing done by our great Bajrang Dal in the name of Love-jihad .. and also he should try to improve his mentality and make it as good as his polished english….
I bet these will keep him busy enough to concentrate on India more…than Arab or Pakistan. ..
Why now deleted the post!!!
He got a seat and became parliamentarian in 2019, only after posting these kind of comments and fooling people by showing unrealistic figures!! Abhi phat gayi nai…!
Now he knows this kind of activities will harm up his future, how his colleague Hagade (Anant Hegde) future happened. So selfish….!!!!!
@Surya Boy… Grow up!! Fools like you making pride of Great India down in front of other nations…. Be mature going forward, because you have just 3.5 years…
U suck !
Looks like The Print is a Congress hater !
Such stupid comments from a parliamentarian is regressive and disgusting. He does not think about the Hindu population working in the Middle East. Sooner the better BJP starts to buckle up or else entire international Muslim community will boycott Hindus world wide and Indians working abroad will be jobless. As it is there r no jobs in India.
idiots like Tejasvi must be given a foreign posting to see how he changes colors and will chicken out,, besides he should travel to Dubai, get a beating and sent back to India,, will politicians ever learn even from this virus,, they are worse than it
Why are these arabs digging out old graves now? Is this their way of holding us ransom for taking action against irresponsible law breaking citizens? Why has she not tweeted anything on tablighis?
This is the problem in us Singh!! Why are you questioning ‘why didn’t she do that?’
The issue raised is on tweet written by one idiot….
Why are you taking diversion to Tableek.
She has written bcoz she is a women…
Actual you would have questioned that idiot, which is the out come result of him…. Sex act or Orgasm… Also need to ask his mom right…!!
Lage hatoon ask about biological father…! ?
This is the problem in us Singh!! Why are you questioning ‘why didn’t she do that?’
The issue raised is on tweet written by one idiot.
Why are you taking diversion to Tableek.
She has written bcoz she is a women.
Actual you would have questioned that idiot, which is the out come result of him. Sex act or Orgasm. Also need to ask his mom right!
Lage hatoon ask about biological father!
The nerd Stud is quoting someone else’s comments and in what context was it quoted earlier.
So quoting someone’s comments hiding behind that , so isn’t he a coward backed by support he knows he will get for writing this ..
By the way how does he know about Arab folks sex life, has he ever been to Dubai, I’m sure he has , and multiple times .
How about Mr Syria’s orgasms (sarcasm)
Oh I forgot , he does yoga every morning at 4 am so his orgasms must be so spot on, so I wonder if a person is having great orgasms they would be chilled out and relaxed and positive outlook in lifeand and not spitting venom .
Why are these arabs digging out old graves now? Is this their way of threatening us for taking action against irresponsible law breaking citizens? Why has she not tweeted anything on tablighis?
Ms Noora, with all the respect, inserted
Of chasing Ghost or Shadow, please
Set some good Example that women are
Respected in Islam. We don’t see any
In Indian Muslim women. On contrary
PM Modiji & BJP Government Pass Law
To Protect women’s Dignity & Respect
They Deserve. Truth Always Shine ?
Prejudice is Poison. Dowry is paid to the bride well in advance before the wedding in Arab Societies to ensure her financial independence. Not just that, the groom should bear the entire celebration cost of the feast and the banquet hall, beside providing for gifts to the whole family of the bride. Lavish dinner with several courses are served to the ladies while men have to just be contend with Mandi (Arabic lamb and rice preparation). The man earns and leads a simple life, while the woman enjoys and spends. The luxury an Arab woman has at her disposal would envy even the same. It’s a tragedy we are electing such closed minded highly ignorants to our August house.
@vishaka Keep ur idiosyncratic and nincompoop views with you. the matter of the fact is these half brained and half paint sanghis are brazenly inhuman. they were never human being in the first place!! Your endorsement to stupid surya’s comment only reveals how uneducated and inhumane you are!
Reply
Earnest request to The Print to stop diverting public attention from the pathetic incident at Palghar. Undoubtedly this post by Tejasvi Surya requires public attention, but it can’t be more important than the pathetic murder by lynching of three Hindu saints by a sadistic crowd. Kindly stress on real issues, such as blaming the communal crowd or the cooperation of the police with the lynchers!!
Thank You. Jai Hind!!
Guys. Before peeping into others social life why don’t you have a look at yours. If you are pointing a fingure on others remember that four fingure s are pointing at you. If you are good,then the whole world looks good. If you are dirty minded,every thing looks full of dirt so try to wash your mind first.
Do enlighten the Arab lady with your knowledge about pointing fingers as she is the one trying to divert attention by quoting a 5 years old tweet.
Arab is a highly patriarchal society.
If a lady had made such comments, she would have been awarded with Women empowerment and Feminism award
These ch…yaz have no clue to how people eat and live in other countries. They hardly take the courage to peep out of their rat holes and explore the world and try to know other people. By far, most introverted and prejudiced lot. A bootlicker is brought to india to bark at other people and he is paid for it. His audience gets all excited at his foul mouthings. They lap it up.
This is an indication of Hindutva mind.
This shall prove to all right thinking and healthy mind Hindu society that if we give the power of ruling India to these people what will be the shape of the country in future.
this is a indication of a Jihadi mindset. Digging a 5 year old post and jihadis suppoting her.
If this lad is not sacked and expelled from the party, it has lost all the moral grounds to call itself as world’s biggest Political party. Shame on him. What kind of upbringing his parents have incalculated.
Why now from the Arabs, muslims here along with pseudo seculars already lynch hindoos here. To swamis have been killed mercilessly aided by policemen in Mahaaraashtra last Thursday, many intellectuals are mum. It is high time hindoos unite to recoup our respect, Om
You fool get your facts right and stop spreading fake news and be careful you will be booked for spreading fake news.
Let this be a deal if you are so serious about this 5 year old tweet made by Tarique Fateh or Tejaswi Surya. While deporting all Islamophobics to India better prepare to get ready to accept the Hinduphobics in India to your country and feel happy,
It doesn’t matter who said it, what’s important is the patriarchy mindset of these people – I am surprised a youngster like Surya is having such a medieval mindset
It seems that there is a competition in the present sycophants as to who can be more disgusting and spew venom on the opposition and muslims. You can stretch the truth as much as you want, even to the limits of in credibility and there is an army of loyal social media army to take it to a goebbelisian level!
It’s baffling to see the Arab countries, where there is 0 freedom of speech.telling Indians about secularism. The countries which acts as ummah but doesn’t accept a single Muslim refugees,the country where a girl needs witnesses to prove a rape,where gays are stoned to death, where if you want to choose another religion you will be executed,the flag bearers of wahabism who openly declare war on infidels and justify their killings, the one’s killing innocent yemenis just for the lust of power, the funding of all the terror groups in the region, the ones pouring in billions for madarssa and mosques worldwide but not providing a single dollar for refugees,are lecturing India about human and minority right. The systematic cleansing of minorities in their countries is well known. Those who argue that there are so many non Muslims working there, no they are not given equal rights there. You are never given an equal status as Arab. You will find it impossible to get a citizenship. Even Indian Muslims don’t get one. So they better not teach us. If I start digging the history of these Arabs , they won’t be able to hide their faces under those veils. From the horrors of the Islamic conquest in Europe,Africa and India, the list goes on. So please don’t tell us about how to conduct our country. They can’t even manufacture a needle by themselves and calling for boycott of Indian products. Okay go ahead, remember 90%of food in gulf is imported. And you are not doing us Indians a favor a by employing us. We know skills which you won’t be able to acquire in your lifetime and btw we are buying crude worth billions which is keeping your economy afloat and trade deficit is hugely in your favor. We can stop buying crude, go all electric, or we can diversify our crude options like choosing American WTI crude or Russian source. It won’t pinch us a bit. But it will bleed you to death. So think twice before messing with India again. And all the Indian Muslims who have been rejoicing about these threats, please don’t stoop so low to sell out your country just to please the Arabs. This act will only alienate you from the masses. Then don’t play the victim card.
Tejasvi was speaking on the topic of female genital mutilation, which is a crime in a civilized country, so he quoted tarek fatah. Where are all the feminists who cry that burqa and hijab is women empowerment? Is FGM also women empowerment? Obviously the Arabs will get offended because all those glitzy buildings won’t be able to hide their crooked mindset.
How can Mr.Tejasvi Surya be supported only because he is Indian? So you can support Dawood Ibrahim also just because he borned in India. Be a man, man. We are Indians. We don’t support Surya Tejasvi for his inhuman venomous language.
Stop living in an utopian world. Grow up first. Let the Indian government fulfill all your fantasies and only then you can get your wishes.
Excellent. These arabs never speak against Chinese ill treating Muslims. But here muslims sre not discriminated. They are not stopped in politics or in employment. Can a Hindu or christian become top leader in any muslim country?
Crude mindset people always encouraged by BJP in election tickets distribution is also cruel decision.
The print
Please post an article on the attack by peaceful people on health workers in india
There shall be better topics The Print shall put forth for debate and not what someone said about 5 years back. Lack of any good articles for Print. After Imran Khan, The Print seems to be a second beggar of the world for some worth reading topics.
I like the articles in The Print so it is my word against yours Mr Vishoo. And nobidy prevents you from spending time in front of the TV inhaling the hot air emanating from Arnab Goswami ..
Our PM has muslim hate in his dna. He handpicked many mp’who are like minded and won the greatest democracy of the world. India with help of Israel and US in near future. All Indians should come back and make india a superpower.
The real story is that Mr. Surya tweeted an except of an interview of Tarek Fatah. The statement is actually made by Mr. Fatah. But as usual, by quoting out of context, the author is blaming Mr. Surya.
Get your facts right lady. Enough of this trash journalism.
We believe in MATRU DEVOBHAVA. Such an thought should not have passed his mind. Better for India, a gentleman like him tenders an unconditional apology.
The print is always and will be anti India..I have not seen any instance they write on behalf of Indians the hindus
Mr. Tarek Fatah had indeed made this comment. Mr. Surya is not lying about it. Whether Mr. Fatah’s observations are valid or not is certainly up for debate. But fact remains that women in the Arab world live their entire lives shackled. Patriarchy is practiced almost everywhere on earth but nowhere is it so crushing, dehumanising and violent as in Arab nations. The ultra-conservative society and the horrific and brutal Shariah laws officially practiced in these nations are the ones which must be called out.
Going after Mr. Surya or Mr. Fatah is pointless and serves no purpose at all. Ms. Noora has for long been an India baiter and it comes as no surprise that she should take “offense” at Mr. Surya’s tweet of Mr. Fatah’s comments.
Before talking about the conditions of women in arab world just look at the facts here.
Indian women in general are treated like dirt in most lower and middle class families grinding in the kitchen to feed their husbands,beaten for dowry and tortured by in laws.
In Varanasi widows are left to fend for themselves from all over the country.
In Haryana women are not allowed freedom of love and marriage and honour killings are regular ,and all decisions are given by the Khap panchayats.
In Rajasthan some of the age old traditions are inhuman and mind boggling.
There are villages where the panchayat decides on a virile man to sleep with the wife on the first night after marriage so that the children so born are in sound health.
There are other customs like running away with someone else,s wife out of the boundaries of the village and claim the woman.
Child trafficking and rape make you chilling if you hear the facts.
In most lower class families women are beaten by their drunken husbands and extortion from the women s families is very common.
The plight of women is pathetic in India and before pointing fingers at others you should do something about this.
Instead of worrying about Arab woman, why don’t you Google about the condition of Indian women, both in terms of domestic violence and sexual harrasment at work place and in public.
You are unaware of the facts in the Arab World, they are far more advanced than your petty whatsapp university is teaching you. Just come down to terra firma, Surya is a young brat, has the gift of the gab, got a BJP ticket thru the back door, power and pride has gone to his head, the fall will be so great, the BJP will throw him out. Our PM has since realises Corona has no caste and creed.
Keep ur idiosyncratic and nincompoop views with you @vishska the matter of the fact is brazenly inhuman were never human being in the first place!! You endorsement to stupid surya’s comment only reveals how uneducated and inhumane you are!
Prejudice is Poison. Dowry is paid to the bride well in advance before the wedding in Arab Societies to ensure her financial independence. Not just that, the groom should bear the entire celebration cost of the feast and the banquet hall, beside providing for gifts to the whole family of the bride. Lavish dinner with several courses are served to the ladies while men have to just be contend with Mandi (Arabic lamb and rice preparation). The man earns and leads a simple life, while the woman enjoys and spends. The luxury an Arab woman has at her disposal would envy even the same. It’s a tragedy we are electing such closed minded highly ignorants to our August house.
In India we still have untouchability, caste discrimination sexual discrimination,
Women can’t enter many temples, in the north
Dalit women beaten to death after parading naked for hours.
Honour killing.
In the north women are made to work like cattle while men sit back n have hookah all day long.
U need to see the log on ur eyes before looking at the specs in another’s
It would be more appealing, to the citizens of our country, if Tejasvi does an in-depth analysis of the child marriages in several backwards regions, Dowry cruelty towards the women, cases of Domestic violence upon our sisters, acts of honor killing done by our great Bajrang Dal in the name of Love-jihad .. and also he should try to improve his mentality and make it as good as his polished english..
I bet these will keep him busy enough to concentrate on India more…than Arab or Pakistan
No one is in shackles calm down. UAE and rest of the Arab countries are 100% still better than being gang raped in a Delhi bus by 7 men and then you wait for justice for 10years LOL. In fact this is oppression but you won’t understand because you don’t respect your daughters and sisters.Talk about 7 year old being gang raped in a temple and never get justice.Shame on you.
Instead of bothering about the plight of Arab women he should do a survey on Hindu women in India . It may be revealing. This is the kind of venom that gets them votes. Hence no respite from bigotry.
Then what about Muslim women who have average 17 child according to WHO in india?
Then what you say this child is act of sex or love.
Truth is always bitter.
I totally agree with you, this is qualification set by BJP to be a worker and how hard comment about Islam and muslim he writes he will be allivated to the higher position. Good example Our PM. Unfortunately this is the taste of majority community in India and they play well and won.
The response is coming now from the Islamic world. Thick and fast. That was the whole idea of appointing a retired diplomat as EAM.
Didn’t understand your comment