Ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Ram Kadam from Mumbai’s Ghatkopar constituency landed in a controversy on Monday night after he reportedly promised the young men attending his Dahi Handi festival that he would kidnap the girl they liked, even if she says no to the proposal.
“If 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,” Mr Kadam allegedly said while addressing a crowd of thousands that had gathered to witness his Dahi Handi festival, which the MLA claims to be India's biggest dahi handi.
A video of the MLA’s speech, in which he even gives out his mobile number, was shared on Twitter by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Jitendra Awhad. “How can women in this country will remain safe if ruling party MLAs openly boast about kidnapping women,” asked Mr. Awhad.