Mumbai: NDA constituent the Shiv Sena and opposition parties in Maharashtra on Wednesday raised their pitch for action against BJP MLA Ram Kadam and likened him to demon king Ravan for telling youngsters he would "kidnap" a girl they like even if she rejects their proposal.
The Opposition warned that it would not allow transaction of business during the winter Session of the state legislature if no action is taken against the Ghatkopar (West) MLA.
As the BJP and Kadam continued to draw flak, the legislator expressed regret for his remarks made at a 'dahi handi' event in his suburban Ghatkopar assembly constituency Monday night, even though he claimed that the comments were "distorted".
BJP state spokesperson Madhav Bhandari, however, played down Kadam's remark, saying as the MLA has expressed regret, the matter is over.
Women members of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) burnt Kadam's effigy in Indapur town of Maharashtra's Pune district, while NCP workers staged a protest outside his residence in Ghatkopar, demanding his arrest.
An IYC member said, "We burnt Kadam's effigy in Indapur after naming it 'Ravan Kadam'. We are angered by his comments to the extent that we felt like beating him with slippers. The chief minister should take action against him".
The NCP and the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) likened Kadam to demon king Ravan.
"Through the comment, Kadam has insulted our mothers and sisters. We will not allow the House to function in case no action is taken against him," Maharashtra Assembly opposition leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil told a rally in Indapur.
The rally was organised as part of the Congress' public outreach programme Jan Sangharsh Yatra.
Congress' Mumbai unit president Sanjay Nirupam demanded Kadam's expulsion from the BJP and urged women not to vote for the saffron party in the Lok Sabha and assembly polls next year.
During their protest, women activists of the NCP led by MLC Vidya Chavan blackened Kadam's photo and hit it with footwear.
In Mumbai, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, whose party is an ally of the BJP at the Centre and in Maharashtra, dared Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to show "courage" and take action against the MLA.
Mocking the Union government's "beti bachaao - beti padhao" slogan, Thackeray wondered whether the Maharashtra BJP has launched a "beti bhagao" campaign.
He said no party should give poll ticket to Kadam for making such "snide remarks" against women.
"Strict action should be taken against Kadam for insulting our mothers and sisters. The Chief Minister should show courage and take action against him," he told reporters.
The MNS put up posters depicting Kadam as Ravan outside Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' residence and in Ghatkopar.
State NCP women wing chief Chitra Wagh led a protest at Satara in western Maharashtra. The activists barricaded state Education Minister Vinod Tawde over the issue.
The minister assured them that "action would be taken if anything wrong was found".
NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said the BJP's "Ravan-like" face is out and its legislator will be called "Ravan Kadam" till he apologises. He said state-wide protests will be held against Kadam until he apologises.
Asserting that his comments were distorted, Kadam said late Tuesday, "I only repeated a sentence made by one of the people standing in the crowd... It was not my sentence. 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."
"Yet, if I have hurt sentiments, I express regret," the MLA said.
The BJP, however, accused the Opposition of being least bothered about the people's real issues and instead fuelling the controversy over Kadam's remarks.
