Christian Protest Against BJP MLA's Remarks on Priests

In Jalna district of Maharashtra, Christians organized a march on Monday to denounce the comments made by BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar regarding Christian priests.

Gopichand Padalkar, a legislator representing the Jat constituency in the Sangli district, recently declared that he would offer a cash reward to any individual who assaults those visiting villages for religious conversions.

These remarks by Padalkar followed the tragic suicide of Rutuja Rajge, a 28-year-old pregnant woman, in the Sangli district. Her death was reportedly linked to dowry demands from her in-laws and pressure to convert to Christianity.

Rutuja Rajge, who was married to Sukumar Rajge, an employee in the merchant navy, allegedly took her own life on June 6 in Kupwad town.

The protest march culminated outside the District Collectorate, with participants holding placards and shouting slogans as they vehemently opposed Padalkar's statements. They called for a criminal case to be lodged against him for inciting violence and promoting animosity towards the Christian clergy.

The protesters further urged that Padalkar be expelled immediately from the Maharashtra Legislative Council, asserting that such individuals have no place in democratic institutions that uphold secular values.

Padalkar had claimed that the woman's suicide was due to harassment over religious conversion and dowry demands.