The remark made at an event organised by a sugar mill in north Maharashtra's Nandurbar district on Saturday, however, prompted a woman trade union leader to lodge a complaint against him in Chandrapur district yesterday.
"I regret my remarks. I express my apologies. It wasn't my intention to hurt women's sentiments," Mahajan, the state's water resources minister, told reporters in Mumbai.
Noting that he hade made the remark "in a lighter vein", he said it was an "unintentional mistake".
A video of his speech was uploaded on YouTube.
Angry at the minister's comment, Paromita Goswami, president of Shramik Elgaar, an unorganised sector labour union, lodge a complaint at Mul police station in Chandrapur.
She said the minister had "insulted" women with his remark.
Citing article 47 of the Constitution, she said in accordance with the provision the government is supposed to enforce prohibition.
She also threatened to launch a protest if the police did not register an FIR against the minister.
The Maharashtra government had in 2015 declared Chandrapur district in the Vidarbha region dry, imposing a ban on the sale, purchase, production and consumption of liquor.
Chandrapur was the third district in the state, after neighbouring Wardha and Gadchiroli, where prohibition was imposed.
Mul police station inspector Jayvant Chavan confirmed the receipt of the complaint.
"Paromita Goswami's complaint has been forwarded to higher officials for legal opinion. However, there are no specific clauses under which the complaint could be registered," he said.
"I think the minister is a habitual drinker and we appeal to all the women in Maharashtra to come out and fight against such a mindset," NCP spokesman Nawab Malik said.
In an editorial in the party mouthpiece Saamana today, the Shiv Sena also took potshots at Mahajan.
"In a lot of places in Maharashtra, women are protesting against the sale of liquor. Despite being aware of it, Mahajan made these remarks which is unfortunate," the Sena said.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
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