Slamming BJP legislator Ram Kadam for his anti-women comments, opposition parties Wednesday likened him to demon king Ravan for telling youngsters he would "kidnap" a girl they like, forcing the MLA to "regret" his remarks.
At a 'dahi handi' event in his Ghatkopar assembly constituency Monday night, the BJP MLA had told youngsters that they can tell him if they liked a girl and he would "kidnap" her for them even if she rejects their proposal.
With Kadam's remarks triggering an outrage, Kadam issued a video message on social media, saying, "I have very high regard for women. Without giving any explanation about the video clip (of his controversial remarks), I express my regret."
Claiming that his comments were distorted, Kadam said, "A (conveniently) edited video clip of my Ghatkopar event is being widely circulated but I am not going to make any comments about it."
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena put up posters depicting Kadam as Ravan outside Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' residence and in Ghatkopar, while Nationalist Congress Party spokesperson Nawab Malik said the BJP's "Ravan-like" face is out and its legislator will be called "Ravan Kadam" till he apologises.
Women members of the Indian Youth Congress burnt Kadam's effigy and also thrashed it with footwear in Indapur town of Maharashtra's Pune district.
Labelling the MLA "Ravan Kadam", they demanded that the chief minister take action against the lawmaker.
The posters put out by Raj Thackeray-led MNS said Kadam was "the dashing MLA, who proclaims himself to be compassionate, will abduct daughters".
"If he or his men do so, file a police complaint and also let us know. We will help you safeguard your daughters," the party said.
Kadam, however, said he repeated a sentence made by one of the persons standing in the crowd.
"The clip which has gone viral is only of 40 seconds. However, later I had said mothers, sisters and daughters in all households are 'Lakshmi' who need to be respected," he said.
"Yet, if I have hurt sentiments, I express regret," the MLA said.
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