Mumbai, October 8, 2017 | UPDATED 00:18 IST
The shocking incident took place in Chikmahud village in Solapur district.
ZP CEO with women whom he 'felicitated'PM 
Narendra Modi is pushing for a clean and open defecation free India through campaigns. But, in rural Maharashtra this has gone horribly wrong as a Zilla Parishad (ZP) CEO went overboard with the mission and in an attempt to shame those defecating in open 'felicitated' women by garlanding them. The ZP CEO Rajendra Bharud, who is an IAS officer, didn't stop at that, he sent those pictures to mediapersons for 'publicity'.
The shocking incident took place in Chikmahud village in Solapur district.
According to villagers these women were poor labourers who had no access to toilets.
The ZP CEO was in the village to spread awareness about building toilets. He took a round early in the morning with the 'Good Morning Squads' and garlanded two women who were returning after defecating in the open.
Women politicians have slammed the move and demanded immediate action.
Speaking to India Today, MLA from Solapur Praniti Shinde has demanded immediate suspension of the ZP CEO. "This kind of insulting behaviour towards women is harassment of women and this certainly has percolated from the top. The CEO should also be booked under provisions of IT Act for circulating such pictures of women," Praniti demanded.
Shiv Sena leader Neelam Gorhe has demanded a thorough inquiry into the incident.
"Whatever the intention is, such brutal use of force will not serve any purpose. There have been earlier instances where 'Good Morning Squads' have gone overboard. The matter should be thoroughly probed," Gorhe demanded.
After the incident received flak from activists, ZP CEO Rajendra Bharud said, "We did not felicitate the women or shame them. Local women from self help group did that. I am against any such photo session. I had even asked not to make these pictures viral."