In a shocking statement made during a ‘Dahi-Handi’ event on Monday, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Ram Kadam promised the men attending the event that he will kidnap girls they like.
In a video posted by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Dr. Jitendra Awhad, the BJP MLA from Mumbai’s Ghatkopar constituency can be seen making the outraging statement to a large gathering.
बेताल वक्तव्य करणारा भाजपा नेत्यांमध्ये आणखी ऐकाची भर.. रक्षाबंधन , दहिकाला उत्सव या पवित्र सणा दिवशी आमदाराने तोडले आपल्या अकलेचे तारे !
कशा राहतील यांचा राज्यात महिला सुरक्षित? pic.twitter.com/Z5JAx5ewrN— Dr.Jitendra Awhad (@Awhadspeaks) September 4, 2018
Kadam said, “f you propose a girl and she denies, you come to me with your parents. If they too like the girl, what will I do? I will kidnap her and give her to you.” A report by The Hindu states that the MLA was addressing a crowd of thousands during Janmashtami celebrations.
In another incident on Saturday, a BJP Mahila Morcha leader from Jammu and Kashmir, Priya Jaral alleged that senior party leaders demand sexual favours from women in exchange of promotions.
The Narendra Modi government at the Centre gave the slogan “Beti Bachao”, but the party’s own record on women’s safety is a dark one. Of all political parties in India, the BJP has the highest number of MPs and MLAs who are accused of committing crimes against women. Earlier this year, J&K BJP MLAs had rallied in support of the men accused of raping and murdering an 8-year-old girl in Kathua.