Indian politicians casually making sexist remarks or cracking rape jokes in public is neither uncommon nor surprising. So if an elected member of the legislative assembly publicly tells men that he’ll help them kidnap girls for perhaps by now, we should expect nothing less.
Ram Kadam, BJP MLA from Mumbai’s Ghatkopar constituency has raked up a controversy for his statements during a dahi handi event on Monday. In a video of him that has gone viral, Kadam is giving out his phone number to people and assuring them that they can call him anytime. In his bid to show that he’ll help out men who were rejected by girls, Kadam ‘jokes’ saying that he’ll help kidnap them.
“You can call me.. if you call me saying I have proposed a girl and need your help.. I will definitely help you.. I will call your parents and ask them…If they say they like that girl then… I will kidnap that girl and give it you.. now take my number,” he said, to which the crowd gave him an applause.
Here’s the video which was shared by NCP leader Jitendra Awhad:
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’s comments sparked reactions on Twitter and many criticised the ruling party’s stand on safety of women
Dear @Dev_Fadnavis
Congratulations on the new job you have given your MLAs of abducting girls.
Is it national policy for @BJP4India ?
MLA Ram Kadam offers to abduct girls for boys. He even offers hotline number for it. https://t.co/IdcuDrKDyo— Preeti Sharma Menon (@PreetiSMenon) September 4, 2018
One BJP MLA has offered from a stage to help boys kidnap girls and marry them even against the will of the girls. I guess he believes marriage is like forming a govt. Ashamed and disgraced that he sits in the legislative assembly of Maharashtra- a land of culture & women liberty
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) September 4, 2018
Not just an outright apology from him, but I’d want to know from the Home Minister of Maharashtra what action will be taken for openly making such statements that threaten the safety of girls and offering safety to those wanting to kidnap them.
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) September 4, 2018
Ram Kadam, who was formerly with Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), holds a Guinness World Record for lighting the maximum number of candles at a single venue. While responding to the controversy, Kadam said that his statements have been ‘distorted’.
