Mumbai: Despite preacher Indurikar Maharaj tendering an apology over his contentious remarks on the timing of sexual intercourse and the gender of a child, the controversy is likely to escalate further as women’s rights activist Trupti Desai on Wednesday threatened to blacken his face if an offence would not be filed against him in the next eight days. However, the Maharashtra Karni Sena has warned against ‘interfering with the Hindu religion.’
Ms Desai on Wednesday met the police superintendent of Ahmednagar district demanding filing of an offence against Indorikar Maharaj for his remarks.
“If an offence is not filed against him within eight days, we will blacken his face by reaching his ashram at Akole. We have provided all the evidences about his statement to the police,” she said.
She also alleged that the political leaders were trying to protect Indurikar Maharaj. “Right from the CM to other ministers and politicians are trying to protect him. They should stop this,” she said.
However, Maharashtra Karni Sena warned Ms Desai against blackening Indurikar Maharaj’s face.
“If Trupti Desai goes against Indurikar Maharaj, we will blacken her face. She should not interfere into the matters of Hindu religion,” said Ajay Singh Sengar, the president of Sena.
During his kirtan (sermon) at a hamlet in Ahmednagar district recently, the preacher reportedly said intercourse by a couple on an even date would beget a male child, while on an odd date would result in the birth of a girl.
However, facing widespread flak across the state, he later tendered an apology for his remarks linking the timing of sexual intercourse and the gender of child. The state minister Bachchu Kadu also made it clear the state government would not file a case against him over the remarks.
In a statement, Indurikar Maharaj said that he was tendering an apology if anyone’s sentiments were hurt by his remarks. “In the last 26 years of my delivering kirtans, I had stressed on fighting superstition and other social ills... If my remarks hurt anyone’s sentiments, I apologise for it,” he said.
