Mumbai, March 28 Senior BJP leader and former Maharashtra minister Sudhir Mungantiwar on Saturday demanded the death penalty for self-proclaimed religious leader Ashok Kharat, who was arrested for allegedly repeatedly raping a woman over the past three years.
Kharat, who was arrested on March 18, has been named in eight FIRs so far after multiple complaints were received alleging sexual assault, extortion, and the circulation of objectionable material.
Speaking to reporters, Mungantiwar said, "I am a law-abiding citizen, but after seeing and hearing about the barbaric acts of Ashok Kharat, one feels he should not get any legal leniency. No court, no proceedings. Such a person should be punished publicly and hanged. He has insulted the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and disrespected women. Such acts are an affront to Maharashtra and its values."
Strong action would send a message to other self-proclaimed religious leaders, he said, adding that such incidents, which bring disrepute to religion, continue to take place despite the teachings of reformers, including Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Savitribai Phule, and Shahu Maharaj, being imparted in schools.
On the resignation of NCP leader Rupali Chakankar as chairperson of the Maharashtra State Women's Commission, Mungantiwar said that there was nothing wrong in demanding resignations when serious allegations come to the fore.
This ensures that investigations are not influenced, he added.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis should reveal the names of MLAs and ministers who visited Kharat over the years.
Talking to reporters, the Rajya Sabha MP pointed out that Shiv Sena MLA Deepak Kesarkar has claimed that 40 MLAs had visited Kharat and questioned why he was the only one targeted.
"CM Fadnavis should name these 40 MLAs and ministers who visited (Kharat). Who are these people in the government who arranged special flights for Kharat?" he said.
On Fadnavis' remark that the controversial video of NCP minister Narhari Zhirwal with a transgender person needs to be verified, Raut asked how the chief minister proposed to do that.
Verifications have never taken place when such videos surfaced in the past, he said.